Should I Get Rid of All My Things?: CJ Robbins
Recently, I’ve been feeling convicted. God has put it on my heart that I really just don’t need all my stuff. I don’t think that I have a lot of things, not by American standards at least, but I do place too much value in what I have. I have ignored this conviction for a while, but God has placed a few things in my way that won’t let go: missions, my favorite Bible verse, and a quote from Martin Luther.
There are two aspects of mission trips that convict me. First, is seeing how so many other people live without. Directly seeing the people that live without the necessities of life is devastating. This feeling can be numbed when I come back, but the experiences will never leave the back of my mind and the depths of my heart. And these people are thankful! Thankful for every single thing they have. Two years ago, we went to Ethiopia and visited people who live by a literal mountain of trash. We went into the house of an elderly blind couple, and the man began to bless us! We sat there for 10 minutes while this man with so much less than us blessed us and thanked us just for being there. We couldn’t even understand him, but every one of us walked away questioning ourselves about that attitude of thankfulness he possesses. It’s the attitude of gratitude that I am missing. I simply want, and that is the value I give. Simply a want, without thankfulness that God has provided.
The second aspect of missions that convicts me is the experience of living out of a suitcase. I’m living a happier and fuller life when I have less than any other time. No technology, no comfy bed, no closet of clothes, no guitar collection, and sometimes no toilets. And it’s awesome. Let’s consider a passage from Luke 12. Pay special attention to verse 34:
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
The whole chapter is an absolute banger, but verse 34 has always held a special place in my heart. It’s my favorite Bible verse, because it never fails to convict me. No matter where I am in life, this verse cuts to the quick and asks, “What is most important to you right now?” leaving me to sit there and consider the consequences of answering.
With these things weighing on me for months, I heard a quote from Martin Luther a few days ago, “Show me where a man spends his time and money, and I’ll show you his god.” How much of my time is spent trying to figure out how to make and spend my money? I don’t even want to know. But time and money are the most inconsequential in terms of heaven. God is here. God is there. So where do time and money come into play? We don’t need anything to find Him. In fact, those things get in the way. Have you ever longed for heaven simply to escape distractions from God? Somehow the closer I get to heaven the harder it is to want it. I am getting more attached to the life I have right now. I don’t want to get attached. I don’t want to be comfortable anymore. It’s dulling me, making me forget.“31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you”. I can’t even take a suitcase to heaven, why am I carrying all this other stuff around for the few meager years I’ve got? I don’t want to waste it. I want to go out and live for God. I’m sick of all this waiting. It’s a test that God has given us, all this waiting. The rest of Luke 12, Jesus speaks about staying ready:
“35 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
Getting ready starts with getting rid of my things, these things that I currently call my treasure. How do I make everything I have point toward heaven? I might even go back to my high school days of my main wall decoration being some poorly handwritten Bible verses. I would recite them each night before going to sleep. I can still recite most of them now, though it has been years. One of those verses, on the ceiling directly above my pillow, was Luke 12:34. If someone looked around my room now, they’d have to look closely to find Jesus. It wouldn’t be hard, but I want it to be obvious. So maybe I don’t just need less things, I need things that directly glorify God. That’s my answer to the question. I only want you to do one thing now: Ask yourself Luke 12:34.
CJ Robbins is a senior at LA Tech majoring in Biomedical Engineering and works as an EMT in Monroe. Since becoming a member of ACF, CJ has blessed this community with his easygoing presence, willingness to serve, and passion for the Word of God. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with people at ACF, playing ping pong, going to the gym, and spending time outdoors. He is also a member of this year’s Discipleship Team. We’re so grateful for him and look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in his life!