Part 4

Hello ,

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24

One of the hardest parts of cleaning isn’t deciding what’s obviously bad—it’s deciding what you still want, but know you don’t actually need.

That’s where things get complicated.

In 2018, a story circulated about a storage unit auction where a man purchased an abandoned unit filled with expensive items—electronics, collectibles, even cash hidden in boxes. On the surface, it looked like success. But when investigators traced it back, it belonged to someone who had quietly accumulated more and more over time until it overwhelmed his life. The unit wasn’t just storage—it was overflow. Evidence of a life that had lost clarity on what actually mattered.

That’s what misplaced priorities do.

They don’t always look wrong at first. In fact, they often look productive, responsible—even admirable. Work. Money. Recognition. Comfort. Control. None of those are inherently bad. But when they quietly move into the center of your life, everything else starts adjusting around them.

Jesus doesn’t say you’ll have no masters. He says you can’t serve two.

Because whatever sits at the center will eventually dictate your decisions, your time, your energy, and your focus. And often, it happens gradually—not through a big decision, but through small, repeated choices that slowly shift what you prioritize.

You may not notice it right away. But over time, spiritual things get pushed to the side. Time with God becomes occasional instead of foundational. Conviction softens. Attention gets divided. And eventually, what was supposed to be central becomes secondary.

Spring cleaning in this area isn’t about removing everything—it’s about restoring order.

Asking honestly: 

• What’s been taking up more space than it should?
   
• What’s been quietly competing for your attention, your trust, your identity?

Because whatever you build your life around…will shape the direction of your life.

If something else has taken that place—even subtly—it won’t just sit there. It will start leading.

Musical Reflection: Take My Life and Let It Be

Pastor Mike / The Open Word