The Simple Life and Why We Can’t Let Go of Our Possessions

Our Battle with Materialism

Obi-Wan Kenobi (of Star Wars fame) was heard to say,

“I felt a great disturbance in the Force.”

How many tacos did you eat, Obi-Wan?

Some things are felt more deeply than others.

Like our clutter, for instance.

For many of us, it’s not a problem. “It is what it is,” we say.

However, the truth is:

It’s more than it is.

We’re feeling the consequences of overworking, overeating, over drinking, over_____. Health problems such as obesity and diabetes plague us. People are in debt up to their eyeballs. Inflation is growing. Fear is our neighbor. Busy-ness is our rhythm. Loneliness is an epidemic. Ironically, there’s an underlying emptiness in our world of abundance. This is our reality.

Clutter will always lead to complications.

The clutter is more than symptoms. It hits us at the depth of our souls. Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, a.k.a. the Minimalists (https://www.theminimalists.com) said it clearly:

“Consumerism is trying to meet a spiritual need with a material answer.”

We call it retail therapy. When life is stressful and heavy, let’s go shopping. I feel better standing in line at TJ Maxx. For a short time. But then I walk into my closet to hang the new shirt and what do I find? There’s no room for it.

It’s like using Ex-lax as a cough suppressant. It doesn’t really affect the tickle in your throat, but boy, do you stop coughing. For a short time.

It’s more than what it is.

I see this personally from my wife’s business. As a professional organizer, she regularly assists people in decluttering their possessions. They’ve bought into the “too much” culture and their closets and storage buildings are stuffed. After working with her, the relief on her client’s faces is obvious. Their heaviness leaves with the clutter. It’s amazing to see the transformation.

So why don’t we just let it go? Why are we so connected to our stuff? Several reasons surface. Some people keep Grandmother’s mixer even if it doesn’t work because it’s sentimental. Others pay a lot of money for their stuff and it’s hard to let go.

Then there are the soul-level challenges that make us feel a deep connection to our things at a deeper level because they:

• help create our identity. My possessions are an extension of who I am.
• provide security. I feel safe when I have an overflow of possessions.
• create a sense of control. In a world that feels out of control, I want to create my own surroundings with my possessions. I can control that.
• express my value. Owning lots of stuff means I feel important.

In other words, we’re easily possessed by our possessions. It’s soul deep. I’ve noticed they can take on the character of GOD to us. All of those “benefits” from stuff are the very promises GOD has made to us — identity, security, control, value. That’s why Jesus said,

“Let’s go shopping!”

Not really. He actually said,

“Your life is not made up of the things you own.”

Read that again. Slowly. . . . . . .

These words are what we need to hear when we are buying without cause.

The simple life does what the cluttered life doesn’t. It reaches down to the soul and finds contentment from something deeper than materialism. Focus on the inner life and meet spiritual needs with spiritual answers. Discovering your value, purpose, and security apart from possessions is a most freeing experience.

When you feel the hand of stress or fear or grief or discouragement on your shoulder today, don’t react. Take a moment to pay attention to what you’re feeling. Breathe. Then do something simple and helpful like journaling, talking with a friend, or going for a walk. Be proactive with the heaviness you’re carrying. In fact, make those action steps a habit and you’re on the path to discovering the simple life.