For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
February 10, 2024 | 4 min read
Ally Veldhuisen
I haven’t read the entirety of Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but I have watched a few episodes of her Netflix series as well, and I think I get the gist.
Packing for our recent move across the country, I used her mantra to help minimize what made the trek along with us. I asked “Does it spark joy?” to a lot of inanimate objects only to have those items sit boxed up in storage for nearly six months while we renovated our house.
To be honest, more than a few of our boxes still haven’t been opened. I’m starting to think that I should probably just get rid of those boxes without even looking inside, but… I’m Dutch and nostalgic, so I’m bound to have some clutter in my life. 😉
Marie’s mindset to only keep things that actively bring happiness and enrichment has taken the world by storm. Her slogan to let go of things that don’t “spark joy” is ingrained in our culture, and has certainly helped simplify the lives of many. However, the philosophy is creeping from decluttering our homes to minimizing our relationships, schedules, and commitments. While this can be fruitful if done well, it aligns very closely with an idea I’ve been wrestling with for awhile: the idea of removing things from your life that “don’t serve you”.
In my time mentoring university students, participating in Bible Studies, and finding my footing in “mom’s clubs”, it has become surprisingly common lately to hear people discuss “what is serving me” or “what is not serving me.” The goal of these conversations is to discern what actions or relationships are helping you versus those that are harmful. On the surface this seems reasonable, right? We should reflect on how to grow closer to God.
However, the language of “what is serving me” promotes a dangerous self-centeredness that is at odds with our Christian call to love both God and neighbor above ourselves. It makes “self” into an idol – subtly putting ourselves in the place of God, where we judge everything based on our own desires or benefits.
As Christians, shouldn’t our focus should be inward, not outward? We are called to serve God and serve others, not obsess over what “serves us” – though I often find myself ruminating over that exact thing instead of putting my energy toward loving God or my neighbor.
It is still good to reflect carefully on what is pulling us towards or away from God. We should just be careful not to use “what serves me” as an excuse to always flee hardship or do only what feels comfortable. Following Jesus often requires leaning into difficult things – serving the marginalized, showing grace to enemies, sacrificing for others.
The key is doing our reflecting with a spirit of humility, grounded in God’s word. The goal should be discerning how to better love God and neighbor, not simply make life easier for ourselves. As another blogger puts it: “Just because something upsets you or makes you uncomfortable does not mean it no longer serves you.” Difficult situations often mold us more than most as God draws us closer to Himself.
The language we use shapes our minds and hearts–whether we realize it or not. Resisting the culture-changing, but self-centered tendency to only keep what “serves us” or “sparks joy” is difficult, however essential to Christian living. We are called to live out Christ’s radical example of service and love in all that we do.
Doing this means applying self-control and other spiritual disciplines. It means leaning into selfless actions that glorify God, even when difficult. It means persevering in relationships, service, and sacrifice with patience and grace, rather than hastily discarding anything messy or uncomfortable.
Rather than minimizing anything that doesn’t “spark joy,” we need the Spirit’s help to endure hardship and serve “the least of these,” as Christ did. We are shaped and molded through difficulty as God draws us closer to Himself.
So let us cling to God’s word as our guide, not personal happiness. Let us ground our lives in His purposes, not self-interest. And let us pour ourselves out in loving all people, not just those who “serve us.”
Jesus, I confess that often my faith becomes me-centered. I dwell on what serves me rather than serving you and others. Forgive me for making myself the main focus. Help me to reject this self-glorifying mindset that distorts the gospel.
You set aside heavenly glory to sacrifice everything for me. You bore my sin on the cross so that I could be reconciled to God. Instill me with your spirit of humility. Empty me of selfish ambition and fill my heart with your love that I might serve others with deep compassion.
Tune my ears to hear your gentle guidance. Make me quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Guard my tongue from grumbling. Direct my hands to do your work of justice and mercy. Fix my eyes on you alone.
Amen.