Function of the hoarding spirit

With the modern culture of everything being about self, getting what one can get, and mistreating those who do not allow selfish tendencies, the demonic spirit of hoarding has become more powerful than ever. 

The word hoard is defined as a supply or fund stored up and often hidden away; to collect and often hide away a supply, to accumulate; to keep to oneself.  This spirit seeks to gain all it can and not let anything go (Luke 12:15).  The objects accumulated can be things but also people.  When a person does this, it is evident their heart is in their treasure of people or things.  Where a person’s treasure is, there is where their heart is also (Luke 12:34).

People, especially Christians, should not have a hoarding mentality but an ability to let go of objects designed to only last for a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; James 5:1-3).  The inability to let go of things reflects a heart associating emotions with those things as opposed to looking to God as the healer of hearts (Psalm 147:3; Exodus 15:26; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 41:10).  This type of spirit talks people into holding onto things within their homes, making conditions unlivable, as some TV shows display.  In contrast, in other people, it may not make conditions unlivable but does create a bad testimony of how unkept a person’s life can become.  For others, this spirit teaches to hoard the Word of God and not share the Gospel with anyone, denying salvation to take place.  If pastors allow this demon to operate in their lives, the church becomes about gathering people instead of helping those already within the congregation. 

In every scenario, this hoarding spirit finds the broken area of a person’s life and gains power by accumulating other objects (1 John 2:15; Matthew 16:26).  The deception of accumulation bringing happiness or joy is the core of this spirit’s grip.  Jesus Christ is the source of joy that people are looking for (1 Timothy 6:6-8).  He does not give peace as the world gives but real peace (John 14:27; Colossians 3:15).  Christians cannot serve God and flesh (Matthew 6:24).  When Christians allow this demon to function in their lives, they are missing the opportunity to be powerful soldiers in the army of God.  Christians should be allowing the Word and Spirit of God to change not only their minds by being renewed but by pruning things to allow new growth (Romans 12:1-2; John 15:1-8).  Refusing to change or hoarding things or people can be a rebellious act against God’s commands.  Mankind was created to worship God in spirit and truth, so a hoarding spirit entices to focus on other objects rather than the main purpose for being created (Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 19:21; John 4:24).  This hoarding spirit must be overcome by Christians to not lose sight of their mission.

Jesus Christ gave the command to make disciples and preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).  Even making disciples is not a command to hoard people but to train them in the things of God so that they may also fulfill the Great Commission (Colossians 3:1-2; Luke 6:38).  May Christians not allow this hoarding spirit to function in their lives but obtain victory by being who God plans for them to be, fulfill the purpose God has for them, and find their peace and joy within God as opposed to accumulating things or people. 

For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.