I’ll let you in on a secret. When Rhonda is in bed I rearrange the kitchen cupboards to make sure all the cups and glasses are organized by type and size. They also need to be organized in very neat rows. Sometimes I even need to have the patterns on the dishes line up in the same orientation. Don’t get the wrong impression, Rhonda keeps a pretty tidy house and doesn’t just throw them in the cupboard. Remember the Odd Couple? I’m Phelix, an anti-clutter O.C.D. neat-nick. I can’t really help it. My mom was that way and as a kid I hated it. I think it’s getting worse as I get older. I won’t even tell you about my sock and underwear drawer.
Anybody watch American Pickers on TV? It’s about two guys from Le Clare Iowa who go around looking to find treasures in another people’s junk. The junkier the place the better. They sell the items in their two antique stores. Though I wouldn’t have any of these items in my house, I do love the history, and nostalgia that each item represents.
Paul had something to say about garbage and clutter too. In Philippians he was in prison yet gladly accepted all his losses and tribulations as he possessed the saving knowledge of Christ.
Philippians 3:8-9
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…
In Hebrews Paul is trying to encourage Christians in the face of persecution.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
Rhonda, like most women, is an effective multi-tasker. For me, I need to absolutely minimize distractions and clutter to remain organized and focused. Perhaps that is what Paul is advising. Don’t worry about the clutter, distractions, and discouragements of this life. Throw those worries away and don’t let them clutter your focus from the one thing with eternal importance. Everything besides Jesus is just earthly junk anyway.