Living Simply, Loving FullySample

Challenge #2: Donate what you don’t need.

Have you ever stepped into your closet, your basement, or your garage and thought, “Where did all this stuff come from?”

You’re not alone. As technology improves and styles change, we are prone as a culture to upgrade. We see it in the commercials across our TV screens and the ads that saturate our social media channels. Over and over again, the messages say, “What you have is out of date. Out with the old and in with the new!”

So, we buy, we collect, and we store away. And slowly, but surely, we find that we have way more than we will ever need in a lifetime. 

Jesus was not one to share this kind of message. In fact, He challenged this popular cultural phenomenon and even turned it on its head!

“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same,” He says to a crowd in Luke 3:11. He then takes it a step further by saying, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.”

What a convicting message from Jesus, the very Son of God. 

Today, take inventory of the items you and your family own. While it seems commonplace to have multiple styles of one item—like a coat—it doesn’t mean it is necessary. Consider donating items you have in multiples. Then, take it a step further by giving away items that are perhaps distracting you from living a simple and holy life, or are simply more than what you need. 

Pray: 

Jesus, in Your word we see Your clear call to live simply, and to give away what we do not need. It’s so easy as humans to become attached to our physical belongings. But Lord, I pray that You would help me loosen the grip I have on the things of this world that are not necessary or that take away from the thriving of my neighbor. Give me strength and courage as I challenge myself in this way. Amen.