Clearing Spiritual Clutter: Embracing Grace Over Scale

Summary

We all have junk drawers at home—those places where we stash things that don’t have a proper place, but we can’t quite bring ourselves to throw away. In the same way, our spiritual lives accumulate a kind of “junk drawer” filled with sayings, ideas, and beliefs that sound spiritual but don’t actually come from Scripture. These are the quips we’ve heard from family, social media, or even half-remembered sermons—things like “when God closes a door, He opens a window,” or “cleanliness is next to godliness.” They may sound wise, but they can clutter our faith and even lead to confusion or doubt.

One of the most common and dangerous items in our spiritual junk drawer is the idea of the “scale”—the belief that we can balance out our bad deeds with good ones, and that God will weigh our lives to see if we measure up. This view is not only unbiblical, but it’s also impossible. Scripture is clear: our hearts are deeply flawed, and if God kept a record of our wrongs, none of us could stand. We are not “mostly good people who make mistakes”; we are, by nature, sinful and unclean, unable to pay the debt we owe.

But the good news is that God does not deal with us according to what we deserve. The question of whether God will be just or merciful is answered in the cross of Jesus Christ, where justice and mercy meet. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. He paid the price we could never pay, tipping the scale entirely in our favor—not because of our efforts, but because of His grace.

This truth changes everything. It transforms how we approach God—not with fear of punishment, but with awe at His compassion and love. It also changes how we relate to others, freeing us from the need to keep score or demand fairness. Instead, we can love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven. The cross replaces the scale, and grace replaces our striving. So let’s clean out our spiritual junk drawers, throw away the scale, and cling to the cross, where we find more than enough mercy for all our need.

Key Takeaways

- Spiritual “junk drawers” are filled with beliefs and sayings that sound spiritual but aren’t rooted in Scripture. These can subtly shape our faith, sometimes leading us away from the true gospel and into confusion or doubt. Regularly examining and discarding these unbiblical ideas is essential for a clear and vibrant relationship with God. [03:09]

- The idea that we can balance our good deeds against our bad ones—a spiritual scale—is deeply ingrained but fundamentally flawed. Scripture teaches that our hearts are far more broken than we admit, and no amount of good can outweigh our sin. The scale mentality leads only to anxiety, pride, or despair, never to assurance or peace. [08:45]

- God’s justice and mercy are not in competition; they meet perfectly at the cross. Jesus bore the full weight of justice for our sin so that we could receive mercy we do not deserve. This means our standing before God is not based on our performance, but on Christ’s finished work, freeing us from the endless cycle of trying to measure up. [15:49]

- Knowing that God calls us His beloved children changes how we approach Him and others. We are invited into a relationship of awe and intimacy, not fear or transaction. This identity empowers us to love and forgive others without keeping score, reflecting the generosity and compassion we have received. [20:15]

- The cross, not the scale, is the centerpiece of the Christian life. Confession is not about proving our worth, but about acknowledging our need and receiving Christ’s faithfulness and forgiveness. When we put away the scale and cling to the cross, we find a freedom and assurance that no amount of striving could ever achieve. [27:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:26] - What’s in Your Junk Drawer?
[03:09] - Spiritual Junk Drawers Explained
[05:14] - Common Spiritual Sayings Debunked
[06:38] - The Scale: Balancing Good and Bad
[08:45] - The Problem with the Scale Mentality
[10:06] - Our Nature: Sinful and Unclean
[12:39] - The Grocery Store Analogy
[15:01] - The Dilemma: Justice or Mercy?
[15:49] - The Cross: Where Justice Meets Mercy
[16:54] - Psalm 103: Mercy Over Deservedness
[18:20] - Approaching God as Father
[20:15] - Our Identity: Beloved Children
[21:18] - Fairness vs. Grace in Relationships
[23:17] - Bono on Karma and Grace
[24:13] - Holding Out for Grace
[27:55] - The Cross Replaces the Scale
[28:53] - Invitation to Examine Your Junk Drawer

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Cleaning Out the Spiritual Junk Drawer”

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### Bible Reading

1. Genesis 6:5
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

2. Psalm 103:10-14
“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

3. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 6:5, how does God describe the condition of the human heart?
2. In Psalm 103:10-14, what does the psalmist say about how God treats us in light of our sins?
3. What does 2 Corinthians 5:21 say Jesus did for us, and what is the result for those who are in him?
4. What are some examples of “spiritual junk” or sayings that sound spiritual but aren’t actually from the Bible, as mentioned in the sermon? ([05:14])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why is the idea of a “spiritual scale”—balancing good deeds against bad ones—so appealing, and what does the Bible say about its validity? ([08:45])
2. How does understanding that “every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5) affect the way someone views their need for grace? ([11:12])
3. What does it mean that “God does not treat us as our sins deserve” (Psalm 103:10), and how does this shape our understanding of God’s justice and mercy? ([16:54])
4. How does the cross of Jesus replace the need for a spiritual scale in the Christian life? ([27:55])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about “spiritual junk drawers” filled with sayings and beliefs that aren’t actually biblical. What is one “spiritual saying” you’ve heard or believed that you now realize isn’t from Scripture? How has it affected your faith or view of God? ([03:09])
2. Have you ever found yourself trying to “balance the scale” with God—doing good things to make up for bad ones? What did that feel like, and how did it affect your relationship with God? ([08:45])
3. The pastor said, “If God kept a record of our wrongs, none of us could stand.” How does knowing that God’s mercy is greater than your failures change the way you approach Him in prayer or worship? ([11:47])
4. The sermon described how the cross is where justice and mercy meet. How does this truth help you when you feel unworthy or weighed down by guilt? ([15:49])
5. In what ways do you find yourself “keeping score” in your relationships with others—expecting fairness or repayment? How might embracing God’s grace help you to love and forgive more freely? ([21:18])
6. The pastor encouraged us to “throw away the scale and cling to the cross.” What is one practical step you can take this week to let go of striving to measure up and instead rest in Christ’s finished work? ([27:55])
7. If you were to “clean out your spiritual junk drawer” today, what is one belief, habit, or attitude you would want to discard? What would you want to replace it with? ([28:53])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you recognize and let go of any spiritual “junk” that is cluttering your faith, and to give you a deeper trust in the grace and mercy found at the cross of Jesus.

Devotional

Day 1: The Futility of Balancing Good and Bad Deeds

Many people carry the belief that if they do enough good, it will outweigh the bad in their lives, as if God is keeping a cosmic scale to determine their worthiness. This mindset, though common, leads to anxiety and uncertainty, because no one can ever truly know if they've done enough to tip the balance in their favor. The truth is, this approach to faith is not found in Scripture and only creates confusion and spiritual exhaustion. Instead, God calls us to recognize that our efforts can never make us right with Him; the scale will always fall short. [10:06]

Ecclesiastes 9:1 (ESV)
"But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him."

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to “balance the scales” with God or others this week, and how might you let go of that mindset today?


Day 2: The Depth of Human Brokenness

It is tempting to think of ourselves as basically good people who occasionally make mistakes, but Scripture paints a much more sobering picture of the human heart. From the days of Noah to today, every inclination of the human mind is described as nothing but evil all the time. This is not just a problem of the past, but a present reality for each of us. Admitting our brokenness is not meant to shame us, but to bring us to a place of honesty before God, where we can finally stop pretending and start receiving His grace. [11:47]

Genesis 6:5 (ESV)
"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

Reflection: Where do you see evidence of your own brokenness or sinful inclinations, and how can you bring these honestly before God in prayer today?


Day 3: The Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice

When faced with the reality that we cannot pay the debt we owe, the question arises: will God respond with justice or mercy? The answer is both—God’s justice and mercy meet at the cross, where Jesus takes on our sin and gives us His righteousness. Through Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection, the scale is tipped completely in our favor, not by our own merit, but by His grace. This changes everything, freeing us from striving and inviting us to receive forgiveness, love, and a new identity as God’s beloved children. [16:54]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has already paid your debt and given you His righteousness change the way you approach God today?


Day 4: Living in the Compassion of the Father

God’s compassion is not based on our performance, but on His deep love for us as His children. He knows our weaknesses and remembers that we are dust, yet He invites us to call Him Father and to rest in His mercy. This relationship is not transactional or based on fairness, but on grace that transforms how we see ourselves and others. When we are secure in the Father’s compassion, we are freed to extend mercy and generosity to those around us, no longer keeping score but loving as we have been loved. [20:15]

Psalm 103:13-14 (ESV)
"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience compassion from you today, and how can you reflect the Father’s mercy to them in a tangible way?


Day 5: Confession and the Freedom of Grace

Trying to measure up or hide our flaws only leads to self-deception and spiritual exhaustion. Instead, God invites us to confess our sins honestly, trusting that Jesus is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We do not need to rely on our own religiosity or good deeds to be accepted; the cross of Christ is more than enough. Embracing this truth allows us to put away the scale for good and live in the freedom and assurance of God’s grace. [27:55]

1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to stop pretending and simply confess your need for God’s grace today?

Quotes

By nature, sinful and unclean, your human mind is nothing but evil all the time, so that the psalmist is right. The psalmist is right in Psalm 130. Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand? If you're keeping track, who can measure up? Who can actually say that we are good enough? [00:11:49] (00:00:26 seconds) Edit Clip

Because the message of Jesus is not that we're just a little messed up and we've made a few little mistakes. The message of Jesus is we are poor, miserable sinners with nothing to offer God. We can't, by our nature, make ourselves good enough. We can't pay that price that is deserved for our sins. [00:12:15] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip

No matter how many things we true, no matter how we try to pay with our good deeds, our card is going to be declined. We're left standing there with the full card and a horrible realization that we can't pay, which makes sense because if the God of the universe is so far beyond us, how could we ever impress him? [00:14:15] (00:00:20 seconds) Edit Clip

He, God, made the one who did not no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Christ Jesus came, and in His perfect life, death, and resurrection, He tipped the scale completely in our favor. He took the punishment for us having to tip it completely towards the bad so that now in Him the perfection and punishment have been taken place. [00:16:42] (00:00:30 seconds) Edit Clip

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Who fear him. And why do we fear him? Not because he's going to punish us. This isn't a wait till your dad gets home and you're going to get what's coming to you. No, this is a fear that says, he is beyond my understanding. He is beyond my mercy and my figuring out. He gives me what I don't deserve. [00:18:35] (00:00:31 seconds) Edit Clip

And friends, better than any celebrity on this world, the God of the universe, the God who knows the hairs on your head, the God who knows all the things you have done and haven't done, the God who knows your very thoughts desires to spend time with you, desires you to know that you are his beloved son, his chosen daughter, and in the waters of your baptism in one whom he is well pleased. [00:20:24] (00:00:34 seconds) Edit Clip

Because no longer are we trying to live life by a scale and a scale that simply wants everything to be fair. Fairness is the death of relationships. See, fairness means I'm going to treat you only as good as you treat me. And it plays and allows no space for mercy. [00:21:18] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip

But being freed by God in Christ Jesus and realizing there is nothing I can do there is no a price that I can pay to make it right but yet God in his mercy and grace has given me everything through his son Jesus Christ it's a freeing thing because then I can love another person with with no strings attached not expecting anything return I can be generous with other people knowing that that generosity doesn't need to be repaid because it's simply a response out of what God in Christ has first done for me. [00:21:55] (00:00:36 seconds) Edit Clip

Bono writes, I'd be in big trouble if karma the scale was going to finally be my judge I'd be in deep it doesn't excuse my mistakes but i'm holding out for grace i'm holding out that jesus took my sins onto the cross because i know who i am and i hope i don't have to depend on my own religiosity i know who i am do you know who you are can you ever truly tip the scale far enough in your favor and if you can't will you get what you deserve will you be graded on a curve because we all know someone's keeping score but the cross of christ is the only thing that can tip the scale in our favor. [00:25:18] (00:01:07 seconds) Edit Clip

Who are you? You're a person who doesn't need a scale because you never measure up so in the place of a scale you get a cross a savior who says i know you i know you better than you know yourself i know your sin i know your brokenness. I know your guilt. I know you try to measure up, and I know you never will. So let me do it. You just simply confess that sin. Don't deceive yourselves. Stop trying to make yourself think you can be good enough, because you can't. But I'm faithful and just, as Jesus says, to forgive your sins, to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Put the scale away. You got to cross instead. And that, my friends, is far, far better than trying to ever know if you're good enough. [00:27:05] (00:01:14 seconds) Edit Clip