Stuff
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
A recent research study conducted by UCLA attempted to determine the average number of separate items in the typical American home. The number was in the thousands. We’ve all heard about how money and possessions can’t buy happiness.
The UCLA researchers say accumulating bigger piles of stuff may in fact decrease happiness and increase stress. The study concluded that our excess becomes a visible sign of unaccomplished work that constantly challenges our deeply engrained notions of tidy homes and elicits substantial stress.
In my hometown, a new store has opened up that sells nothing but containers to store and organize “stuff.”
I suspect that what is true of the accumulation of tangible “stuff” also applies to what we cram into our minds and our thought process. We fill our minds with all sorts of mundane things and focus on navigating through our mentally and physically cluttered minds.
What you think about in your unguarded moments reflects what your mind dwells upon. Some Christians allow the world to fill their minds with ungodly thinking.
In the words of Henry Blackaby: “The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed by the way you live. If you focus on negative things, you will inevitably be a negative person. If you allow unholy thoughts to fill your mind, ungodliness will become common in your life. If you fill your mind with thoughts of Christ, you will become Christlike. What you fill your mind with is a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magnificent truths of God, and they will create in you a noble character that brings glory to God.”
We should all strive to clean out the clutter in our lives, especially in our mind. Try the thought formula Paul gives us in Philippians 4 and “meditate on these things.”
Question: What are you filling your mind with and meditating on?
