One weekend a couple months ago some friends of ours took us for a boat ride. It was so beautiful and all I could think about was how awesome God is. He is such an awesome creator. As we looked on the banks of the river, we began to see beautiful houses and docks along the way. I noticed several docks were grown over with vines and grass and clearly unused. All the houses were very large and beautiful. The type of houses I grew up thinking I would love to live in one day. They all had the most beautiful view of Gods creation and yet so many did not enjoy what they have been blessed with. Perhaps its because they are too busy. To busy working to pay for the oversized houses, expensive hobbies, and the constant need to buy bigger and better. If all the distractions were taken away, would they then see what they are missing out on? Would they see how much time they spend working to maintain houses and land they do not have time to enjoy?
When I first started feeling led to start the downsizing journey, the scripture that kept running through my mind was when Jesus was talking with the rich man and telling him to sell all he had and follow him. “Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” (Luke 18:22-23) I kept hearing that over and over in my mind. The scripture says that he went away sad because he was rich. I pray that the things this world never come between my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I pray to never allow the things that will eventually rust and become moth eaten to control me. I pray to be free from the controls and bondage of having too much stuff.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)