It’s okay to have a messy house.

Some of you may need to read that again: it’s okay to have a messy house.

The Bible gives lots of commands to Christian families, to husbands, and to wives, but it does not say that you have to have a perfectly clean, de-cluttered, perfectly organized house all the time. Feel free to fact check me on this.

There are a few things the Bible does say related to this: it says we are to care for our homes and families, that we are to show hospitality to strangers and share fellowship with believers, that we are to do everything as to the Lord, and that we are to be hard working and not lazy. Here are a few of those verses:

“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:27)

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:13)

“Whatever you do work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)

Having a clean, organized house certainly does help us do these things. A disgusting house is much less pleasant for those who live in it and much less inviting to friends and strangers. So in that way, it can be important to have a clean and well organized house. And if you think I’m going to say in this blog post that if you just don’t feel like cleaning your house you don’t have to, I’m not. That would be laziness, something that is clearly a sin.

That being said, most of us don’t live in completely cluttered disgusting houses. But we (especially women!) tend to get flustered when things aren’t perfect. I know I do! Maybe it’s those dirty dishes from last night, or the fact that you have no idea when the last time the windows were cleaned, or that one storage room that is hard to walk into, or the fact that the kids have toys everywhere, or that after you got back from vacation days ago the bags are not unpacked yet. Sometimes we act like these things are the be all end all.

The Bible may not say to have a clean house, but it does say to not worry, be stressed, or sin in anger.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27)

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)

So yes, do the dishes, organize the storage room, wash the windows, and unpack the bags. Have a warm, pleasant, inviting, clean, well-organized house. It can bring joy to your family and friends! But if doing (or not doing) those things is going to cause you to sin in worry, anxiousness, and anger, then we have a problem.

Messes happen. And they happen because we are living life. When you live– and I mean really live!– things get dirty and cluttered. Sometimes so much “life” is happening, that there isn’t time to clean up in between. This may mean you are too busy, but it doesn’t always. Sometimes those dirty dishes can sit overnight so you can head to Bible study or have a family movie night. The kids may have left trails of dirt and toys because they are having fun. Sometimes there isn’t time to fold laundry before the next adventure starts.

We say “there isn’t enough time” but really it’s just that we didn’t make enough time. And that’s okay.

We can only do so many things. And while having a clean house is a good thing, it is not always the best thing. There are many things that may take priority, and that should take priority.

Fun can be dirty. Family life can be cluttered. And if messes can’t happen at home, where can they happen?

Be someone who has an inviting house, not because of the house itself, but because of the atmosphere and the people in the house. Love, joy, and adventure make a home far better than a dust rag and mop can.