Stuff is a barrier between us and Jesus; it severs our relationship. If we have things constantly on our minds then Jesus won't fit into our lifestyle. If I have learned anything the past few months from Jesus —it’s that things can occupy, even control our lives and replace Jesus. Of course if we replace Jesus with things, He is not our Lord those things are.
When things are out of order in our lives is when things have too much importance. Those things of importance then actually rob us of the presence of Jesus. If we haven't His presence in our lives it is because we have minimized His space.
Our relationship with Jesus is in our hearts. Jesus said that — He said the Kingdom of God is within you. That said, to keep Him within you, you have to allow Him His space. If instead of Jesus, if you are fully occupied with other things you have replaced Jesus with those things.
Even if you said that prayer you thought would get you to heaven, having things instead of Jesus nullifies that prayer. The prayer is a commitment to a relationship with Jesus. Like an engagement, you engage in each other's lives. That means you hang out together and hanging out takes time —thus you have to have time for Jesus.
If you haven't a relationship with Jesus because your relationship is with —for example food. Food will constantly be dancing around in your mind and you will be spending your time with food. If it is buying things —the same thing, those things you want to buy will occupy your mind as well as your time —leaving no room for Jesus.
For some it is just being busy because they think being busy is an answer to their problems. Really though it is a mind exercise for them to keep occupied enough so that they don't have to deal with their problems. But, if one would sit back and occupy that mind space with Jesus they could not only have healthy thinking but those problems avoided —solved.
The enemy would rather have you too busy to resource Jesus because he is out to kill, steal, and destroy in your life which includes taking your eternity with Jesus from you. The enemy works to convince you that your comfort is in things, food, and business —anything but Jesus.
Although Jesus said to go to Him for comfort many resort to getting comfort from other sources clearly making those sources not Jesus their lord.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] AMPC
If you don't have an honest relationship with Jesus, if He doesn't fit into your environment of too much business of whatever that is—then you have to wonder why would you move into His environment after really —avoidant of Him now? Right? If while you are here you are about this, that, and the other thing, then how and why would that suddenly change when Jesus comes? Like He said to the five foolish virgins I am not acquainted with you.
If you get your comfort from food, business, money or anything else then, Jesus is not really your Lord. You might think so, and say so but if Jesus is not occupying your heart, then like He said you are just pretending. Then on that day, playing house will be over and your life of a lie you were living will end as well.
As Jesus said to Peter, we need to tell Satan to get behind us, I am not putting things before Jesus. If that is your attitude Jesus will help you to get your house in order. He will occupy your house if you let Him, and then on that day, things won't be what He finds in your house.
Matthew 12:43 But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through dry [arid] places in search of rest, but it does not find any. 44 Then it says, I will go back to my house from which I came out. And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, put in order, and decorated. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So also shall it be with this wicked generation.
Things are a spiritual problem as you can plainly see. Jesus is teaching us when something/someone other than Himself occupies our house, His temple (us) then He can’t
Fix it by allowing Jesus back in and spending your time with Him. It isn't hard, just like you got addicted to that other thing you can get addicted to Jesus. Give Him that attention you were giving that thing and I guarantee you, you will be addicted to Jesus! A much better addiction that will bring health and prosperity to you. Besides eternal life!
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. AMPC