Are we called as Christians to be minimalists? Minimalism is a little different for everyone, but essentially a minimalist is someone who strives to live with only what they need. Another article put it this way: being a minimalist is about being intentional about what is in your life. This leads to prioritizing what you have and how you spend your time. This doesn't mean have to give up things you enjoy; in fact it's quite the opposite. Being a minimalist is about living a simpler and more humble life. God gave us all these things to enjoy, but not to put them in place of Him.
This is something I have been personally exploring lately because I have not been happy with how much time I spend doing things I don't really want to do and dealing with the mounting clutter in my house.
It led me to think about the Bible and how many people from the Bible were essentially minimalists (a little extreme maybe), but they seem to have been more intentional with their time and the stuff they owned. Ok so some of these people were poor and so they HAD to be mindful of their time and possessions, but I think they were better for it.
Jesus warns against clinging to possessions in the Bible in Matthew 19:16-30 when he talks to the rich man. A familiar passage warning us that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God." (19:24 NLT) Just some perspective when you are looking into becoming a minimalist. Jesus knows how materialistic we can be and how tied down we get with all of our stuff. Being a minimalist can free you of some of those things and remind you that this world is temporary.
Let's take a look at the benefits of being a minimalist and how it also benefits your life as a Christian.
You won't have as much to clean.
So being a minimalist usually means less stuff. You get rid of stuff that you aren't using on a regular basis (unless it's seasonal of course like a Christmas tree) and you are more intentional about what you bring into the house like new clothes. Less stuff means less to clean. We have all had to move stuff around to clean or get to something else we are after, like a waffle maker you thought you would use more, but it hasn't been used in the last six months at least and it's covered in dust. When there is a ton of a clutter, cleaning can be quite a chore. Getting rid of things you don't use (even if it seems hard at first) will free up time and space.
I think this can be very beneficial to your walk because less cleaning can mean more time for important things like time with family or time with God. God also warns us about our possessions and being lovers of this world.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." -1 John 2:15-17 NLT
It's good for your mind.
Many people say they can think better with simpler surroundings. I think it's a calming feeling when you look around and there isn't a bunch of clutter that needs to be sorted. Honestly I also think that's why staying in a hotel can be such a treat. You can get away from all the stuff you have at home and enjoy almost a clean slate with nice furnishings and floor space (at least this is how I feel).
This calming feeling can really benefit your walk with Jesus because it will free your mind up for devotions and prayer. When I was watching the movie War Room one of the big things they emphasized in the prayer closet is to have no distractions. It had to be completely empty apart from materials you would need to pray and spend time with God. Less clutter means less distractions.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-Romans 12:2 ESV
You will be more productive.
When there is less to clean and you feel more free of mind, you will end up being more productive. With less distractions in your visual field competing for your attention, you won't procrastinate as much. I can be a huge procrastinator when I have to do something before the thing I actually have to do. For example, if you want to sit down and work on creating something (for me it's jewelry or filming a post), but you have to move a bunch of stuff first before you can even get started then you are way more likely to put it off until later.
God often calls us to do certain things (for me I honestly believe He has called me to do this blog for example) and it's important that we don't procrastinate on these things. You never know what God is using that thing for and if it's not done on time it might miss the mark. I'm a firm believer that God uses us even when we might never know He is. It could be an article that needs to be seen by a certain person the day it's meant to be published, but the author procrastinated and it was never seen by that person and they make a bad decision. Decluttering ahead of time will make it easier to be productive.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
You will feel less tied down.
A lot of possessions can really feel like a lot when you go to move. You have to pack everything up and then unpack everything at the new house. Honestly I still have stuff at my parents house. it's been over two years and clearly I don't need any of it so it should either go in a dumpster or to the thrift store.
I equate this point most with those in the Bible like Paul and Peter. The apostles and teachers who traveled to spread God's message weren't tied down with material possessions and they were just fine. They were free to go wherever God sent them and it made them happier to not worry about things that are here today and gone tomorrow.
“Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town." -Luke 9:3-4 NLT
You spend less.
Spending less results in more money for things that matter. When you see how much you like not having all that clutter, you will end up spending less when out shopping. It rewires your brain to really think about everything you purchase, like where is it going to go? and when will you really use it?
Spending less and saving money is great because you can turn around and give money to your church, a charity, or have it on hand to give to someone in need. There have been many times when I wish I had the money to give someone I know in need or give an extravagant gift like send my parents on a weekend getaway or help out a friend who was struggling to get by as a single mom. We all have these wishes and moments that God puts on our heart and having a little fund set aside is a great idea.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21
Do what you love.
If you spend less and own less than it makes it easier to do what you love. It could be a job that doesn't pay quite as well as the one where you were unhappy or busting your butt. It could be going down to part-time or a four-day work week. If you are extreme, you could really cut down and have the time and money to travel the world.
God made this world for us to enjoy. God made people for us to connect with. We aren't meant to do this life alone and when we are miserable working to maintain our lifestyle, we don't get to do either. Don't get me wrong we aren't meant to be lazy. We are supposed to be hard workers, but if you cut back at work you could spend time volunteering or take time off to travel to another country on a mission trip. I know for everyone this may not be feasible, but if you feel God calling you to do it then do it. He will provide.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Minimalism is good for the environment.
Finally being a minimalist can really be good for the environment, like say if you go from a two car family to a one car family. It saves you money and creates less pollution. Another example is less junk means less junk will be tossed out to end up in landfills. Billions of people are contributing this problem by tossing out stuff that they ended up not really needing in the first place. You can help by not being a part of the problem.
God calls us to take care of the earth and He put us in charge of it way back in the garden of Eden. That responsibility was not cast aside with the fall of man. In fact it's even more important now as our world breaks down with more natural disasters.
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
-Genesis 2:15 ESV
Conclusion
So I would say yes I think, in the best way we can, we are called to be minimalists. Minimalism is different for everyone and it certainly is a journey. You will not get there over night. Personally I'm having the problem right now that I can't get rid of my junk because our local thrift store isn't really taking much because of Covid-19. Check out other websites to get the best tips to start the process of becoming a minimalist. Let go of and change what you feel comfortable doing so. I don't think we are necessarily meant to become extreme minimalists where we have to live in a tiny house and have less that 100 possessions, but I do think we put too much value in our possessions and it's hindering our walk with God more than we realize. Taking steps to become a minimalist can free us up to enjoy more of life's experiences and help us be happier.
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