Spring Cleaning Can Build Your Faith in 3 Important Ways
It’s getting to be that time of year again.
The time of year when we all have a little cabin fever and are beginning to think about spring’s approach. With spring comes many wonderful things: birds returning, new leaves, snow melting, time outdoors, and, of course, spring cleaning.
Even those who don’t pride themselves on being organized and “type A” likely enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishing a good spring cleaning.
There is something deeply satisfying about getting things in order, cleaning, and even downsizing.
This should come as no surprise to us. God, we are told, is “not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people” (1 Corinthians 14:33). While this verse is specifically referring to the health of the church, the truth that orderly, peaceful things come from God can be applied to other circumstances as well.
God created the world in an orderly way, as the account in Genesis tells us. And as scientists are still discovering, the world is built on orderly principles, from how living organisms are categorized into genera, species, etc., to how the heavenly bodies rotate.
We are created in God’s image, so we often find joy in having things be orderly, clean, and functioning well, as God does.
I would posit that few of us view spring cleaning as a spiritual activity, even though we probably know the old maxim that “cleanliness is next to godliness.” But while this phrase seems generally directed at children to get them to clean up, there is a deeper truth behind it.
Certainly, God does not require you to have a spotless house to be close to Him or to follow Him wholeheartedly, but the effects of spring cleaning can have implications for our faith.
Here are a few specific ways in which a clean, organized home can actually benefit your relationship with the Lord:
1. De-cluttering and organizing can help you simplify your life and prioritize the things that really matter.
So often in our busy, 21st century schedules we allow things to distract us from what Jesus called “the good portion” and the “only one thing worth being concerned about” (Luke 10:42). Simplifying our lives by downsizing and decluttering may run contrary to the “get, get, get” mentality that the world shouts to us, but getting rid of distractions allows us to have more focus on the things that really matter.
2. Having an organized and de-cluttered home can open up opportunities for hospitality.
Now, let me first say that God can work in messy spaces as well as organized ones if He desires to, and for those with young children, keeping a spotless home probably can’t (and shouldn’t) be your priority. Nevertheless, organizing and cleaning the spaces in which we live when possible can open up great opportunities for hospitality, which can lead to other ministry opportunities.
For one thing, we are more likely to invite others over if our homes are clean. But cleaning and organizing the spaces we live in can also be a way to serve others and to remember that all the blessings we have are from the Lord and do not truly belong to us. A relaxing, inviting home environment can mean a lot to a couple with young children, and you could invite an out-of-town friend over for a meal or to stay for the night.
I’ve been a guest at quite a few homes over the years, and I always find myself truly grateful to those who work to keep their homes neat and organized. It may seem like a small blessing, but it can turn a heart toward gratitude, which is not something to be taken lightly.
3. Having a clean and organized home can help you save time.
While this may seem like a purely practical concern, it too has spiritual implications. How many times have you wasted time rummaging through your disorganized pantry for the box of cereal you wanted to have for breakfast? Or how many times have you wasted time digging through your dresser drawer to find the right pair of socks while getting dressed in the morning? I am certainly guilty of this sort of thing. What is worse, oftentimes it is these silly, small things, which could have been so easily prevented, that use up the time I had intended for a few minutes of Bible reading in the morning or a few minutes of prayer before bed.
I’ve found that the cleaner and more organized my house is, the more time I have to spend with the Lord or with others who need my time. Having a clean and organized environment also makes me more likely to be in the right mindset to read my morning devotions or to have a time of prayer.
These are only a few ways that striving to be good stewards of the things God has given us can glorify him.
In what ways have you found that keeping a clean and organized home can benefit your relationship with the Lord?
Veronica Neffinger is the editor of ChristianHeadlines.com.
Publication date: February 25, 2016
Originally published February 25, 2016.
