I love paper – all kinds of paper, especially gift-wrapping paper. It calls out to me in the store. Occasionally I will toss a roll of the captivating stuff in my cart “just in case.” No wonder the closet in my spare bedroom became overrun with paper and gift bags.

The day I decided to organize that closet, I began by pulling out all the gift-wrapping materials. Yikes! Considering how few occasions I have for wrapping, I was amazed to see the ridiculous amount of paper I had accumulated. Weeding out the pile and organizing the remaining papers gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

But that closet, and in fact my entire house, is not the only part of my life that needs de-cluttering. What about my time, and the activities that fill it? Many of them got into my days the same way the paper got into my shopping cart: appealing at the time, but not really needed.

Such activities may be harmless; but taken to excess they eat up space in my day, just like the paper took up space in my closet. A few minutes here, a few minutes there, and then I wonder why I don’t have time to do the things I had planned for that day. We have so much electronic input at our fingertips, and so many activities and relationships clamoring for our involvement. It’s a good idea to take them out occasionally, examine them, and ask God to help us decide which ones are really worth keeping. Then our days won’t resemble a closet over-run with useless items.

Jesus warned about letting the cares of this world crowd out the Word of God in our hearts (Mark 4:19). When we start thinking we’re too busy for the things God has called us to do, it’s time to weed out other activities that are taking more than their fair share of time in our days. Time to get rid of the clutter!