My husband and I have caught the television show “Clean House” a couple of times recently. ”Clean House” is a home makeover and interior design television show where a four-person cleanup-and-renovation crew comes into the homes of families unable to control household clutter. The host often challenges family members to face their psychological barriers to letting go of their belongings. The homes are so stuffed full of things that they have dramatically and negatively impacted the owners quality of life.
I thought about this show as I reread this passage from the 23rd Psalm. This passage of scripture is one of the most well known in the Bible. Many of us have memorized its words and recite them during times of danger or stress. You can actually feel a sense of peace settle over a gathering of folk when this psalm is recited together. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. What a powerful statement.
Can you imagine what it would look like if we actually lived out of this belief? I think many Christians tend to see this statement as a fall-back strategy. We don’t put our trust in this truth until or unless we are at some critical juncture in our lives. The society we live in preaches that salvation comes from consuming as much as possible and from relying upon our own might and power. And so we rely on our own strength and measure our success by comparing our pile of goods against our neighbors. Coveting that which we don’t have and trying to satisfy our endless list of “wants.”
“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” Imagine what our faith community would look like if we placed our confidence in the providence of the good shepherd and stopped our fruitless pursuit of possessions.
Rev. Penny Ellwood is the pastor for members of the Resurrection family whose last names begin with A-C. She can be reached via email at penny.ellwood@cor.org.
