Getting Un-Stuffed
Posted by admin | Tags: charlieApparently, Its God’s Pie is still ringing in my ears.
This was Branson’s theme in June as he unpacked Jesus’ clear teaching on ownership. Everything belongs to God (Ps 24:1) and we, as Jesus followers, are to lay up treasures in heaven, not store them up for ourselves.
Admittedly, this has been a recurring theme in my life these past two years as I cleaned up my parent’s house. Two Great Depression-inspired pack rats on the loose for 177 combined years! Did I tell you about all the candy bars I found? Numerous closets in their home had unopened bags of Snickers and I was stupid enough to try one. (Maybe love of Snickers is genetic?) Trust me, don’t ever eat one that smells like moth balls!
Predictably, Mary Lou and I have been inspired by this life experience and have been emptying closets like crazy. In so doing, we have rediscovered treasures we have been storing up for no good reason and either throwing them away or, when appropriate, giving them to some one in need – bags of stuff that reveal that we have not been investing in the kingdom as well as we could have. We all have next steps of faith, don’t we.
This past Saturday was another parallel lesson as it relates to treasures. I was hanging out at the More Hope House where Covenant has been doing inspired ministry of late. What an interesting house from the 1890’s. Apparently, this house was at one time a Methodist seminary and now, once again, Methodists are growing in the Gospel at the same address. Anyway, as I was walking through the old home, I was stunned by the size of the bedroom closets. I am not talking 1950’s small; I am talking tiny. I would say somewhere in the vicinity of 15 inches deep, 6 feet high and 5 feet wide. There was virtually no space to store items, and, obviously, there is no attic in the home.
What a contrast. Today’s homes are 30% bigger than the 50’s, have huge walk-in closets and attics, and today’s storage industry is a 12-billion-dollar business. “Where you treasures are, there will your hearts be also”! Ok Jesus, I hear you.
So how do your closets look. Are they stuffed?
I am delighted that there is a Covenant team that is currently designing a process by which our closet and attic treasures can resource the needs of marginalized people in partnership with ministries like God’s Love. You will be hearing more in the days ahead!
Intentionally prioritizing His way,
Charlie
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glenda sawyer says:
Thanks Charlie! As I read this ,I was visualizing my own closets…I live alone ,have large closets in all three bedrooms, two hall closets , an attic and garage .I have only been in this house one year and guess what? Every area I mentioned above is overflowing….What a shame ;;I am a pack rack by many peoples standards, but actually I really thought I was frugal. Thanks for waking me up this morning ,must get busy and live the way I believe,"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,where moth and rust doth corrupt,and where thieves break through nor steal, But lay up for yourselves treasures in HEAVEN………………." MATTHEW 6:19-21 To GOD be the glory..
ashq says:
I am challenged in the 80%! Have historically been generous within 20% but irresponsible in the 80%. Here's my deal…no more mindless trips to Target…good first step!
Mel says:
I just spent an entire day with my son cleaning out his room. We ended up with 2 bags of lawn trash bags of clothes and 6 bags (yes, SIX) of old toys he doesn't play with anymore. He was equally amazed as we loaded up and headed to donate and dump! This year he has only asked for one thing for his birthday (coming up in 2 weeks) – he has realized the waste! AMEN!!
Charlie says:
Great story…..there are three ways in which kids learn: 1) example; 2) example and 3) example….scary, isn't it!
Glad my boys are 27,25 and 21
Dorcas Kamanda says:
Charlie and Mary Lou what a way to wake us all up in the accumulation of "things" here on earth than storing them up in Heaven. As I spend time in Sierra Leone and in the villages and then think back on what I have in the US, I am ashamed of myself. I pray that I can begin to more seriously lay my "stuff" in heaven and not be ashamed when I get there. Thank you for reminding us to be more aware of our "wants" and "needs" here on earth.
Dorcas Kamanda