July 15
Buried in Things,
Empty Inside
"Then he said to them, ‘Be on your guard. Keep away from wanting more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.’"
Luke 12:15, NIrV
Roger’s house was packed—every room, every corner, every surface. Bags of old clothes, unopened packages, stacks of newspapers yellowed with time. Broken appliances sat in the kitchen, and in some rooms, you couldn’t even see the floor. The smell of dust, mildew, and forgotten things clung to the air. Even the garage, meant to hold his car, was filled to the brim with boxes and old furniture, leaving no space for anything new.
Roger wasn’t a bad person. He just liked to keep things—things that reminded him of better days, things he might need someday, things he just couldn’t let go of. Each item had a reason, an excuse to stay. But over time, what started as a few extra things turned into a mountain of clutter that swallowed his home.
One day, his sister, Linda, came to visit. She had long stopped coming inside, but this time, she insisted. As she stepped through the narrow pathway between the towering piles, she sighed.
“Roger,” she said gently, “you don’t need all of this.”
Roger frowned. “I might need some of it.”
She picked up an old, unopened box. “This has been sitting here for years. If you haven’t used it by now, do you really need it?”
Roger felt defensive. “I worked hard for these things. They belong to me.”
Linda shook her head. “But look at your life, Roger. Your home is full, but your heart is empty. You keep gathering, but is it making you happy?”
That night, Roger sat alone in his chair, surrounded by the weight of his possessions. He had thought having more would make him feel secure, but instead, it only made him feel trapped. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had invited someone over—his house was too messy, too embarrassing. He sighed and rubbed his face.
Then, he noticed something on the bookshelf, buried under a pile of old receipts and junk mail—his Bible. He hadn’t opened it in years. Brushing off the dust, he flipped it open at random, and his eyes fell on Luke 12:15:
"Be on your guard. Keep away from wanting more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has."
Roger exhaled sharply. He had been holding onto things, believing they would bring comfort. But Jesus said life wasn’t about possessions. What was he really holding onto? Fear? Regret?
For the first time in years, Roger prayed. “Lord, I don’t want to live like this anymore. Help me let go.”
The next day, Roger called Linda. “Can you help me clean out some of this stuff?”
She was stunned. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he said, looking around. “I think it’s time.”
And so, little by little, Roger began clearing out his house—and his heart.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I don’t want to hold onto things that don’t matter.
Help me to see that true life isn’t found in what I own but in You.
Teach me to let go of the things that weigh me down and to trust that You will always provide what I need.
Fill my heart with contentment, and help me focus on what truly matters—loving You and loving others.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
