I'll admit to having a latent gene inherited from my ancestors in there somewhere that causes me to want to collect and keep certain things...well, maybe not so latent...it rises to the surface quite often...but I manage to keep it under control by not having any money to spend on such frivolities...however, when things are free...or inherited...or gifts...or really a great bargain...well...watch out! Before you know it, things can begin to pile up...
- in the corners, in the closets, in the drawers, under the beds, in the garages, attics, sheds...wherever there is an empty spot that just needs to be filled...
- and then you realize that you just can't put one more thing in that room or closet or on that shelf...
- but you see this "thing", and you love it and just have to have it...
- it reminds you of Mama, or Grandma, or Daddy, or Aunt so and so, or a friend, or a place, or a memory of your childhood that you want to hold on to...
and then the collections become an obsession...and we find that we are powerless to
- let go
- walk away
- say NO
- throw it away
- give it away
and we begin to dream about just moving out and leaving it all behind for someone else to deal with. But then we think...Oh, but I don't want to leave my pictures, my books, my dishes, my tea cups, my tea pots, my dolls, my tools, my antique furniture....my "Collections"
Yes, I admit it...I totally understand this problem...I HAVE this problem. They say admitting it is the first part of winning the battle, right? So, okay, ... but I don't think I hoard things in the true sense of the word Hoarding (click here for that definition).
I don't keep things because I think I'll need them someday...no, I keep things because I like them...they are special in some way...they have sentimental value to me for whatever reason...they have historical value, and I enjoy them. Or they are gifts that I've been given, and it wouldn't be nice to not keep them. And for the most part, my "collections" are neat and orderly (sort of) and not totally overflowing the whole house...well...not yet...
Hubby and I have been talking about wanting to "downsize" to a more practical, manageable home in the future, when our sons are truly finally moved out on their own and we don't want to have so much house and property to maintain on our own as we get older. When we start thinking about this and really talking about it, I do admit that I have some issues about what to keep and what to let go. So much of our furnishings, etc., are actually inherited from our families...and they do have sentimental value to us. BUT...the day is coming when I know I will have to let go of some things and move on.
As a matter of fact...that day could come in a moment...in a twinkling of an eye (See I Corinthians 15:52) ...and the Lord will come and catch us up into the air and take us home to heaven. (See I Thessalonians 4:17)...either via the Lord's return, or via the end of this life as we know it and the beginning of the new life in heaven that I so look forward to. And then what will happen to all of these things??? (See Luke 12:16-21)
Well...
Matthew 6:19-21 tells me what I need to do:
19. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal;
20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also."
So, does this mean that it is wrong to collect things that I enjoy, or that have been passed down from our ancestors?
The key verse here is "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I need to honestly look at myself and ask this question..."Where is my treasure? and Where is my HEART?"
Verse 24 of this chapter says:
"No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon."
Do I put these "treasures" ahead of my relationship with God? Do I love God enough to be able to give up these "treasures" in order to serve Him? Do I allow these treasures to come between myself and my relationship with others?
God has not yet asked me to "give up" anything that is in my house, but I believe I am understanding that if He were to call us onward to a different place...a new kind of ministry, or even to something that would be better for our household/life situation...I may have to relinquish my hold on these things...
If the Lord were to call me home to heaven today...I know I can't take anything with me...EXCEPT for the TREASURES that I have built up in heaven! And what, pray tell, are those???
Lord, I hope that I have built up some treasures in heaven...I hope I haven't been so busily collecting these things here on earth that are just going to eventually collect dust, (daily), rust, break, be thrown into someone's trash heap and be forgotten...that I've neglected to store up the more valuable treasures in Your safe treasure store....things like:
- Souls that have been drawn to and led to Christ because of my testimony or life of faith
- Treasures of kindnesses that have been done for others
- Gifts that You've given me to use for Your honor and glory here on earth that have blessed the hearts of Your children here
- Prayers that I've prayed for others
- Songs that I've sung to You in praise and adoration
- Love that I've hopefully given to others
These material things that I've been given or have somehow obtained...they do have their place...and some have even been used in service to the Lord in some way...but they are still just things...
and I do not ever want to be guilty of putting any thing ahead of my relationship with Christ or any person. That would actually be a form of idolatry...and we know that we are not to worship any thing in place of God....we are not to let any article, dream, or idea take the place of our relationship with Christ and His kingdom.
So, on this "National Pack Rat" day, I confess that I may be a bit of a pack rat...and I also confess that I struggle with letting go of these "things"...but when it comes right down to what is really important in this life and the life to come...I want my heart to be secured in heaven...and I want my REAL treasures to be stored there, where nothing can destroy them.
Thank You, Lord, for this little wake up call to show me where my heart truly is. Help me, Lord, to always invest my life in YOU, in heavenly treasures, so that I won't be sad to see some day that my heavenly cupboard is bare. Amen.
