Neatness: A Good Habit That Glorifies God

Most people like a person or something that is neat and orderly. That is why from childhood children are taught to put their belongings or toys in their proper place. At school, students are taught how to dress well, write neatly, and take turns tidying the classroom. For adults, a neat appearance is one of the important factors in business ethics and employee recruitment.

The problem is, not everyone is used to neatness. Whether because of laziness, busyness, or not knowing how. Psychologically, some people are more productive in a “messy” work environment, because that is how they process information, find inspiration, and create.

However, in general, disorder or untidiness affects how our brains work. One study of 32 families whose homes were cluttered found an increase in the hormone cortisol in the afternoon as a result of the cluttered homes. This triggers depression and affects our brain’s ability to learn, improve memory, and cope with stress.

Looking neat does require extra effort. However, neatness is a habit that will make many things easier for us, from daily life to professional life. So then, what can we do to become a neat and orderly person?

Neatness Helps Others See God Through Us

According to the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language (KBBI), the definition of neat is: good, orderly, clean, tidy, disciplined, all in order and pleasing, ready, alert, as it should be, and not careless. It turns out that neatness is not only about having a clean or polished appearance. Neatness also means an orderly and disciplined way of life, as well as a way of doing work that produces the best quality, in other words, not carelessly.

The habit of neatness needs to begin from our mindset, that neatness is beautiful and pleasant. Most people will make sure that their appearance is clean and neat when they are about to leave the house. However, even when we are at home, we should still maintain cleanliness and neatness. We are not neat merely because people will see us when we go out or receive guests. 

Even if a Bible verse illustration is displayed on your wall, when people see that your home is dirty and cluttered, they will not be able to see the glory of God. There is no need to have a house as magnificent as King Solomon’s palace; even a simple home, if it is neat and clean, can make people feel comfortable and glorify God. The Queen of Sheba also praised God when she saw how Solomon arranged his household. 

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service and clothing of his attendants, his drink, and the burnt offerings he used to offer in the house of the LORD, the queen was breathless. 

“Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you so much that He has set you on the throne of Israel!”

– 1 Kings 10:4-5,9a

With wisdom given by God, it certainly was not difficult for King Solomon to manage the stewardship (stewardship) in his palace. However, that does not mean we cannot do it as well. With the willingness to build good habits, we too can put ourselves and our homes in order. Is there not a saying, “My home is my castle”? So let others be able to see God through us and our homes.

A few things we can do to train ourselves in neatness:

1. Get Rid of Unnecessary Items

I passed by the field of a sluggard and the vineyard of a man lacking sense. Behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall had broken down. – Proverbs 24:30-31

Like the field of a lazy person that is covered with nettles (a kind of mangrove plant) because it is rarely weeded, so is the house of someone who is not neat. Such a person is not orderly in putting things away, likes buying and piling up items, and is also reluctant to throw things away or give them to others. As a result, every empty space in the house is crammed with things that are actually not really needed.  

Try checking your wardrobe, bookshelves, kitchen, storage room, and other storage areas in your home. Are there any items that are broken, or still in good condition but have not been used for a long time? Perhaps you once dreamed of getting slim so you could wear your jeans from your single days again. Sadly, years have passed and those jeans are still sitting in the corner of the closet. 

Before your pile of tools, furniture, or clothes becomes a mountain, sort through your belongings regularly. There are many choices you can make: sell them to a secondhand shop, give them to relatives, donate them to a social home, or give them to scavengers. Besides making your house more spacious and easier to clean, you will also be doing good to others.

A loving nature is good, but loving possessions excessively is also not good, for example, still keeping things that are already broken. Learn to let go and not be attached to any object.

Do not love the world or the things in it. – 1 John 2:15a

2. Make Sure Everything Has a Place

Each person has different taste and artistry in arranging a home. However, in general, having storage (storage) that works well makes things easier to tidy up. We should not scold children for putting their toys anywhere while we do not provide a storage box for those toys. The same thing also applies to small items, such as keys, chargers (charger), umbrellas, and so on. 

The places for storing things should be known and agreed upon by every family member. After being used, an item must be returned to its original place. In that way, whenever a family member needs it, the item can be found easily. If there is no place for an item, it may be that the item is indeed not useful, or perhaps you need to provide a new storage place. 

Creating an administrative system for family documents is also a good idea. For example, if your family has five members, each member would have his or her own file containing a birth certificate, report cards, diplomas, certificates, and personal documents. This will minimize the risk of things being lost, scattered, or misplaced. In addition, each family member will also learn to be responsible for their personal documents.

3. Be Orderly and Do Not Put Things Off

A messy house or room usually begins with one small act of disorder. For example, putting shoes down anywhere. Dirty glasses and plates are simply left on the table. Books are not put back in their place. Therefore, to tidy it up, you only need to begin with one orderly action as well. 

Start in the morning. Before leaving your room, make sure your blanket has been folded. After breakfast, wash dirty spoons and plates right away; do not leave them piled up at the sink. Buy small laundry and ironing baskets. As soon as the basket is full, immediately wash and iron all the clothes in it. 

It is even better if you write a to-do list in your planner. Do not be reluctant to write down small things like “take out the trash to the bin in front of the house.” Often, the small things we forget can actually cause big problems. Making a list and doing it promptly will spare us from many problems.

And do not forget to check your task list at night before going to sleep. What a relief it is when everything has been done. Imitate the Lord Jesus, who completed His task to the end. He did not want to work halfheartedly, much less carelessly. 

After Jesus had taken the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” – John 19:30a

It should be noted that anything done beyond reasonable limits will tend to become unhealthy. In a number of cases, this indicates psychological conditions, such as OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), hoarding disorder, depression, and others. 

For example, you cannot stop piling up things until your room no longer looks like a room. Or on the other hand, you are always busy making sure every object is in its place, to the point that you become extremely anxious if one thing shifts even slightly from its original position. In another case, your room is usually neat, but lately it has become very messy because you are experiencing stress or depression.

If the things above are disrupting your daily life, seek help immediately from people you trust or those with greater expertise.

Neatness is a good habit that keeps us from unnecessary difficulties. By being neat people, others can also see God through us. Do not hesitate to get rid of unnecessary items, make sure everything is put in its place, and not delay doing it. The Lord Jesus bless you!

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References:
Beth Penn, The Little Book of Tidying: Declutter Your Home and Your Life (London: Gaia Books, 2017), 19-20.
www.sehatq.com/artikel/kamar-berantakan-apa-hubungannya-dengan-kepribadianq

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