Devotion / Store your treasures in heaven

Hoarding American style

Those hoarder shows on TV! Have you seen them? Have you lived them?

In America, it has gotten so bad that it pushes people out of their houses. They have so much stuff that they can't seem to live without that there is no room for them in their homes. Unless an intervention takes place, they will die amid the clutter and filth.

Chinese, too!

It's not just an American thing. According to a report from the Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry, people is China suffer from this disorder as well. While Americans hoard possessions, Chinese more often stockpile food. One report claims that in 2022, China held 69% of the world's corn reserves, along with 60% of rice, 51% of wheat, and 37% of soybeans. Even salt was being hoarded already back in 2011 after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit China.

Spiritual hoarding

In our spiritual lives, it's easy to become hoarders. In Matthew 6:20, Jesus encourages us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls on believers to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and then to fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Our own sinful natures seems to collect all kinds of baggage. Ephesians 4:31-32 warns us that our lives can become filled with bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

God's encouragement

Instead, as grateful followers of Jesus, we are called to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

An honest look into our hearts reveals we are hoarders of all kinds of sinful things that are not pleasing to our God. By ourselves, we don't really want to let go of those shameful things like grudges, revenge, anger, and bitterness.

But praise be to God! His grace provides us with more than forgiveness. When Jesus enters our hearts, the Holy Spirit works to break our old hoarding habits. Through his power, he enables us to clean house on those sinful, selfish desires that don't belong in our new lives and that only bring hurt to us and those around us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, it is easy to hoard sinful things that don’t belong in the our lives. It can be so hard to let go of our old ways. Help us let go of our selfish habits and live in the way that reflects your love for us.

By Dave Payne