“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:31–33 (NIV).
I began decluttering my home with the spare bedroom closet. What is in all those boxes, anyway? Some haven’t been unpacked in over two decades and three moves.
What is clutter? Disorganized stuff you don’t use but hold on to, anyway.
Why do we have so much stuff? Advertisements and social media pressure us into buying things we don’t need, from the latest phones and kitchen gadgets to beauty products promising to fix all our skin and hair issues.
What happens when you declutter your home?
Realize happiness isn’t about acquiring more stuff
We connect our happiness directly to the quantity of our possessions, but it’s never enough. We always want more. In our key verse, Jesus reveals God knows what we need, so do not worry about tomorrow. He will supply what we need. Scripture states, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33 (NIV).
By decluttering, you free up time, money, and energy to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness instead of more stuff.
Decrease stress
Clutter can make you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed.
Chronic stress causes many diseases such as headaches, anxiety, depression, poor gut health, digestive problems, weight gain, a decrease in immunity, increased blood pressure, and increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and more.
Finding things is easier when you declutter, thus lowering stress and frustration. (Has anyone else frantically rummaged through a junk drawer in search of something important?)
Also, being in an organized space makes you feel calm and content at home.
Focus on things that matter most
A cluttered environment can hinder your ability to focus on things that matter, such as your dreams, passions, and God-given purpose.
Joshua Becker, in his book, Things That Matter, writes that by removing distractions, we can accomplish the things that matter. And one thing that distracts us is “the chatter of a world focused on all the wrong things,” including all of our stuff. 1
Experience less isolation and more freedom to socialize
A cluttered home can make people shy about visitors, which leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Experience freedom to invite a friend over or have a party without worrying about the clutter.
Lower risk of accidents and fires
Too much stuff makes it easy to trip and fall, so removing obstacles in the home prevents accidental falling.
Lots of paper or flammable items can fuel fires and block exits, so cleaning it up may prevent a catastrophe.
Final words
Feeling overwhelmed by decluttering? Ask a friend or professional for help to decide what to keep and what to discard.
You don’t need my advice to declutter your home, because there are many experts to help you. One I recommend is Julia Ubbenga’s book and website, Rich in What Matters.
However, here’s one helpful tip. As I open each cabinet, drawer, or box, I ask myself, do I really need this?
This quote from the book, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun, sums it all up.
“One day we all will have to let go of everything—even our own breath. It will be a day of utter simplicity — a day when the importance of stuff fades. Learning to live simply prepares us for our last breath while cultivating in us the freedom to truly live here and now.” 2
References
1. Becker, Joshua. 2021. Things That Matter Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life. Penguin Random House.
2. Calhoun, Adele A. 2015. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook. InterVarsity Press.
