Simplify

My house is a disaster right now.  I have black garbage bags and old diaper boxes scattered throughout every room.  They have become the catch-alls for dozens of items that I’ve decided to give away.

Because God has wrecked me.

A few weeks back He revealed to me just how selfish I am.  I live in abundance.  I have four extensive, different wardrobes (my “regular” clothes, my maternity clothes, my postpartum clothes, and my work clothes).  I keep them all…just in case I need them.  I have an extra set of pots and pans.  I keep them…just in case I need them.  I have twenty extra towels in our linen closet.  I keep them…just in case I need them.  But the fact is that I don’t need them.  I haven’t used them in years.  By holding on to them, I was depriving others of something they may need, and I was depriving myself of the blessing of giving to others.

Generosity has been an area of confusion for me since I became a follower of Christ.  How much am I supposed to give?  Should I be living on next-to-nothing so that I can be more generous?  Or is it ok to have some things?  Where do I draw the line?

There’s a story in Matthew of a man asking Jesus what he must do to receive eternal life.  He wasn’t just an average guy.  He was good.  Some may even say he was righteous.  Scripture tells us that he had kept all of the commandments.  But that wasn’t enough.  Jesus responded to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  The man left sad.

Can you imagine if God told you to sell all your possessions?  I can assure you that if He told me that, I too would walk away sad!

I have always read this passage, questioning if it is a biblical mandate to sell all of my possessions.  As I have spent time studying it, and praying about it, I have come to realize that it is not a broad mandate.  The root of this message (as with most messages in the Bible) is the purity of the individual’s heart.  Jesus was pointing out that although the man had kept all of the commandments, his heart was still gripped by material possessions.

I share the same struggle with the man in the story.  Hence the hoarding. J  While, God has not told me to sell all my possessions, one day He might.  Right now, He is just telling me to simplify.

So I am.

What is God telling you?  Is He telling you to be more generous?  Is He telling you to simplify?  Is He prompting you to be a blessing to another?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your generosity.  Thank you that You meet my needs.  Thank you that You are my provider.  Lord, I pray that you will use me as your vessels to provide for another.  That I will not be gripped by the materials of this world, but that I will choose to demonstrate your love by being generous.  For I know that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.  I love you Lord.