What Do You Covet?

Sometimes I get overburdened by the amount of things I’ve accumulated in my life and the things I have hung onto. Things passed down to me as well as things hanging around my house that are my children’s that I just can’t seem to let go of. It’s tucked away in closets out of sight. Can any of you “boomers” relate?

As we prepare for my husband’s in home dialysis, I’ve been on a “tear” to get rid of unnecessary things to make space for the supplies and to foster a less dusty and clean environment. I weeded out three huge piles of items from cabinets and closets and left them for a family friend who always finds a good use for things.

This morning as I was pondering Luke 12:15 that tells us to “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” I received the following text:

Thank you for blessing many people!

Pedro will be using KJ clothes. Betty will used t-shirts for work. My mom, the linen’s. Owl coloring summer activities for Niko. I meet a girl yesterday who will use Lauren clothes for church.

God bless you.

I not only feel lighter cleaning out my space but I have also blessed others by sharing what I had been holding onto. As I strive to seek spiritual treasures rather than earthly ones, I realize how hoarding can lead to spiritual harm and distract me from what truly matters. Where my heart is, there lies my treasure. I don’t wish to “covet” and be burdened by things that decay and lose their value.

Heavenly Father, search our hearts for the plague of consumerism, the desire to have, to have things, to have more and that craving to waste money. Weed out the cancer of consumerism that sickens our hearts and makes us selfish. When we rely on “our things” rather than rely on You and Your provision. Amen