Happy New Year and un-stuff your drawers
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
What images come to mind when you hear or read the words, “stuffed drawers”? Do you see disproportioned bodies of people who have a close resemblance to Cabbage Patch Kids that are swollen, blown up and squashed into old fashion underpants with short legs? Or do you see dresser drawers not completely closed, overstuffed and over flowing with plenty of clothes that you forgot you had and you probably couldn’t wear them even if you went on a slim fast diet for four straight years?
For me, up until recently this vision of overstuffed drawers reminded me of having more than enough and not knowing what to do with it.
After telling my son, who is home from college enjoying his Christmas break that he needed to get rid of some of his junk that covers his room floor like a new decoration, it jarred my mind as if I was a participant in an old Christmas toy, ‘Rock-um-Sock-um fighting robots’, that I too needed to get rid of some stuff.
My son, not being overly excited when I reminded him that he has chores to do as well as going to bed before the sun comes up for the next day, surprised me by creating a bag of give-a-ways of some of his favorite things, i.e. baseball caps, sneakers and other stuff.
Now the spotlight was back on me. Was I being selfish and hoarding stuff that I was not using which had many more years of use to it? This stuff was in good shape-“News flash” one man’s trash is another man’s treasure; why was I being greedy and becoming a bigger sinner?
This relationship with being selfish with stuff is what can happen when our God becomes the love of things.
Money, worldly possessions, pride, self serving services and all the things that influence ignoring God. I’m sure that there are a number of other things, but my drawers are filled to the brim and running over with this stuff.
When our lives are overrun with “stuff” we can become so full and so concerned with collecting that stuff that we make no room for God.
If I were to replace the word ‘money’ in 1 Timothy 6:10 with ‘stuff’’ or with everything that refocused us from God, it should be better understood what happens when we become swallowed up by stuff gathering: For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
This New Year may be a good time to reevaluate the things we have and to give away to be used by others. Let’s un-stuff our drawers for the New Year and make room for God’s purpose in our lives.
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” 1 Timothy 6:7 (NASB)
WHEN YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF GOD THE ONLY THING THE DEVIL CAN ADD IS SIN
