Yard Sale and Mt 19:16-24

In the spirit of moving I have taken on the great task of a yard sale. I have been pouring through my things trying to get rid of as much as I can. I have been contemplating the simpler things of life and desiring to rid ourselves of 'excess'. Of course, getting rid of all excess would require me to move to a remote island with no Target. But I am trying. I was looking at the pile of things in the garage and felt really sad about how much I have collected. I mean, it really overwhelmed me to think that I have been swept away by the wave of materialism.

Seeing my pile of 'excess' made me think about the Scripture Matthew 19:16-24:

Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher what good must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One that is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, "You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself'. The young man said to him, "All these I have observed. What else do I lack?"

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this statement he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."


Oh boy. Now by no means am I claiming the 'rich' title but in light of all my excess stuff I really want to ask the Holy Spirit to guide my decision to 'give'. (Is it still giving if I do so in a yard sale?) I know that materialism has played its part in coming between me and my spirituality. There is always something to clean, read, listen to, watch, put together, take a part, and so on.

I pray that with 'less' in my life there will be room for much more of Christ!