Build New Barns
by Barbara Chadwick


This morning I held the cutest outfit before me. I remembered the places I had worn it. I smiled as I remembered the good times with friends in that outfit. However... I haven't worn it in over two years. It is the slightest bit tight over the hips now but how could I give it away? It has too many sweet memories. I went through the suitcase and held up one after another in the same manner. But the problem is my closet is too full already. Why is this so hard?

You notice the Lord didn't put me with the disciples that He sent out with the instructions, "Take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff..." Matthew 10:10

We just moved back to Colorado after being two years and three months in Juneau, Alaska. Moving back in after only two years seems almost as big a hassle as if we had moved everything we had up there. I know, I know, the kitchen sink and all that but I was told to take everything I thought I'd need for at least a year. It turned out to be two but we're not counting because God really blessed our time there.

We visited a relative this summer where I was first reminded about the scripture where the man needed to build bigger barns to hold all his stuff.  Every closet and cabinet including the refrigerator was filled to overflowing.  The lady invited me to go to a clothing party. We had a good time and....bought more clothes.

I was told about a cousin whose house is so full you can hardly walk through it. There is a couch behind a couch and china closet behind the one you see, etc. We shake our heads at the picture, yet each of us has our own pile that we guard.

Several people we know are in the process of moving. One family told us about getting rid of things in order to downsize - kids have left home, etc. Another family had to pay for an additional storage unit because all their stuff wouldn't fit into the new home.

This afternoon I cleaned out a kitchen cabinet that had vases and candle holders. "Gee whiz," I thought to myself, "I didn't know I had so many of these!"  Whereupon I set aside a bunch of them to take to a Thrift Shop. But when I started to put them in a bag I noticed how dusty they were and started washing them. As I washed I muttered, "This would be neat to decorate with at Christmas, or Valentines, etc." So I put a few of them back on the shelf. When I finished and hung up the towel I had the thought that it will take my children a couple of weeks to get rid of all our "stuff!" 

Looking at your stuff do you sometimes think, "What if I'll need that sometime?" then, put it in the attic or basement? People who teach about organizing say, "If you haven't used it in a year get rid of it."

If your "stuff" can be used to glorify God then keep it. But remember that sometimes God is glorified in the giving when it can help someone in need.

Jesus told this parable in Luke 12:18. "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, "What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, "This is what i'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"  Jesus continued, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."