The Discipline of Enough

Long before “minimalism” became a trend, Christian leaders were preaching the power of decluttering our lives. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, emphasized extreme simplicity and faithful stewardship. In his sermon The Use of Money, he urged believers to “gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can,” warning that accumulating luxuries was a burden that “chokes” the spiritual life. 

Wesley himself lived with very few possessions; he considered it a crucial part of living a holy life and therefore freeing his heart for God’s work and for helping others.

And here is a story that really struck home for me about Wesley;

[Wesley] had just finished hanging and admiring some pictures he had just purchased for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was a very cold winter day, and he noticed that she had only a thin linen gown to wear for protection against that cold. 

He immediately reached  into his pocket to give her some money for a coat and realized he had very little left after his purchases. It struck him then that the Lord was not pleased with how he had spent his money. He asked himself: “Will Thy Master say, ‘Well done, good and faithful steward?’ 

Thou has adorned thy walls with the money that might have screened this poor creature from the cold! O justice! O mercy! Are not these pictures the blood of this poor maid?”

Reading what Wesley spoke in this sermon forced me to reevaluate how I am spending my time and money. I realized that when we engage in excess, there is little left for those in need. And that raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: are we conducting our lives — our choices, our spending — in a way that reflects stewardship, or self-indulgence?

This isn’t about luxury for luxury’s sake. It’s about whether our appetites have quietly replaced our accountability. Because every dollar, every resource, every moment we consume beyond what we need is something that can no longer be offered to someone else.

In a culture that celebrates more, faster, bigger — restraint has become radical. But restraint is also where compassion lives. And maybe the measure of a life well lived isn’t what we accumulate, but being mindful of making room to give.

Accumulating  clutter, whether in your home or in your faith – is really a type of control. 

And here’s the thing — we don’t usually call it control.
We call it being responsible. Prepared. On top of things.

But let’s be honest — sometimes it’s not organization we’re after.
It’s reassurance.

Most of us aren’t trying to control life because we’re bossy or rigid.
We’re doing it because life feels loud. Unpredictable. Fast.

And when the world feels uncertain, control feels comforting. That’s where clutter sneaks in. Because clutter isn’t always about having too much stuff. Sometimes it’s about holding onto options. Just in case. Just so we don’t feel caught off guard.

So we keep the extra bins. The backup supplies. The things we might need someday — because letting go feels risky.

Even when what we’re really doing is trying to manage our anxiety with labels and shelves.

Now — let me say this clearly — order is not the enemy. God is a God of order. But order without trust can leave us exhausted.

Because  while control promises peace… it never actually delivers it.

Scripture reminds us — over and over — that peace doesn’t come from managing every outcome. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, not because tomorrow doesn’t matter — but because we aren’t meant to carry it.

Sometimes the most freeing thing we can do isn’t organizing more — it’s loosening our hold.

What if the goal isn’t a perfectly controlled life — But one where we trust God enough to release what we don’t actually need to carry. One where we make space — not just in our homes — but in our hearts.

And that’s why this conversation matters. Because uncluttering our lives and letting go of control isn’t about deprivation. It’s about freedom.

If you want to weigh in on anything discussed in this message, please reach out to me at info@sheiscalledbyhim.com

Also if you have a prayer request regarding these issues or any others please leave  those requests at https://www.sheiscalledbyhim.com/prayer-room

The requests remain anonymous, and we have a team of women who pray over every request. 

Please forward this Newsletter to a friend you think may enjoy receiving it!