Is It Necessary?

On Friday night I realized I have a lot of junk. I went to find something in the garage early in the evening and found myself five hours later surrounded by all the stuff that I’ve accumulated and stuck in the garage. A garbage can, recycling bin, and entire car-load-to-the-brim-to-Goodwill later I am feeling about 100 pounds lighter and convicted about all the extra stuff that is so easy to collect!

I can be extra sensitive to “too much stuff”, in part because of my job. I work with different clients as a personal assistant and continually find myself helping to clean-out, organize, and relocate other people’s junk. The more stuff I sell for people on eBay and Craigslist, or organize in plastic containers in storage units, or simply beg my friends to take off my hands for free, not only do I realize just how much unesscessary stuff our culture collects, but also how expensive and time-consuming it is to simply maintain or get rid of it!!

I could go on and on with examples that are both humorous and sobering, but the main question I want to pose is, Just how much stuff do you have and does it rule your life and dictate your time? Do you worship the things you have (or the things you don’t have), or do you worship Jesus? I’m not saying that having fewer things makes you more righteous or living in poverty is somehow better than gathering material possesions. I think often times people who have nothing are worshiping all the stuff they wish they had! I am saying that now more than ever its is so easy to accumulate things and have to take care of, insure, or store things. I get an overall sickening feeling when I see how much stuff I have that I don’t use or won’t use. I can thankfully say I feel like I’m well on my way to recovering from thinking that I need a lot of stuff to realizing the real cost of the things I buy and keep around.

It was really therapeutic to go through my things, face them once and for all, and realize that if I haven’t used some of them for a few months or a year, chances are I won’t miss them if I give them away. I’ll offer a few suggestions if you’d like to take a mental inventory of the stuff you have and what might be more of a drain on your time rather than adding to your life and mission:

Books
I love ‘em, I read ‘em, and recently I’ve gone back through my bookcase and started selling them on half.com. A lot of books are great to read once, but there are so many more books on my “to-read” list that I know I’ll never re-read a few of them. So far I think I’ve made about $50! Think about using the public library system more often instead of buying every new book that someone suggests…

Clothing
As a fashion design major, I could really go on and on but I won’t. Just remember that this isn’t about anyone but you. It’s not about “do I have more or less than my friend so-and-so?” but about how much do you need, wear, and use? Just be honest with yourself. I like to regularly clean out my closet and head to the consignment store with a bag. This week I went by and picked up a check for $44! More importantly, I’m really trying to be disciplined and only buy the clothes that I really love and will wear. I try to only go to a clothing store when I actually have something I need to buy, rather than going to browse to see what’s there. And unless I’m looking for something specific I never go to the clearance rack - pretty much 100% of the things I buy on clearance “because they’re a good deal” always end up going to the consignment store after being worn once or never! Another place I really avoid is the $1 section at Target. Seriously - if it’s not on my list and I don’t need it, the fact that it’s only $1 really doesn’t make it a better deal! It just means that it’s probably something cheap that I’ll end up throwing away or selling at a yard sale. I wouldn’t do that with a dollar bill and I really don’t like doing it with cheap junk imported from China…

What about clothes that are too small or you just never liked? Figure out a way to wear them starting tomorrow, or get rid of them!

Entertainment
This is different for everyone, but do you ever stop and take an inventory of the things you keep around for entertainment but never use? Music you don’t listen to, DVDs you don’t watch, etc. Time to clean them out and commit to not buying things unless they fit with your overall mission - to worship Jesus with your life and everything you have! Again, I’m not saying entertainment is bad; just that it’s really important to use moderation and not let it rule your life!

Office Supplies/Organizers/Personal Products
You know who you are! There are some of us very administrative types who love to walk through the office supply area thinking that just a few more sticky notes, paper clips, or another plastic organizer is just what we need to be organized. Nope. Use what you have, organize what you have into the containers you already have, and if you really find a need for more storage, go out and get it, but purposefully!

How about five-year-old half-used bottles of lotion, nail polish, and hair products? Clean out, clean out, clean out! And then stop buying some of everything! Decide what you like to use and need to use and stick with that.

Whew, obviously this is close to my heart, but it really saddens me to hear people say “wow I have so much stuff I really need more space.” No you don’t. You need more space when you have children, get married, start a business. You don’t need more space to hold more stuff! Remember, this is about what you are worshiping and where you time, money, and energy goes. When you buy gifts for people do you just give them stuff? Or do you give them something meaningful? One of my favorite gifts to give is a gift certificate for a massage. If I don’t give that, then I try to listen well and get something that a friend has expressed a need for. Don’t contribute to other people’s closets full of stuff!

So just in time for Spring I propose a little Spring Cleaning. As you work through the things you own ask your self “is this necessary?” And if you don’t own anything, ask yourself, “how much time do I spend thinking about all the things I want?” It’s great to use things and stuff to help you accomplish the mission set before you but remember to worship Jesus!

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” Proverbs 15:16