Christ And Minimalism

photo from https://stocksnap.io/

Time and time again, movements and philosophies spring up that teach you how to better live your life. Do this, do that, avoid this, pursue that, and it goes on and on


As I stated on my previous blog post I'm trying this thing called minimalism. I find it a lifestyle that truly resonate my being. But I feel  that if it's not tied to my strongest foundation- Christ, then all of it is meaningless.

If you're not careful, you may end up in its pitfalls. Yes, you can be consumed by too much minimalism (I dare say, yes it is a possibility). The preoccupation of HOW MUCH stuff you have, is still in essence, a form of materialism. You are itching to throw away your next surplus stuff and obsessively counting the remaining possessions you have, just to prove your identity as a minimalist.

So yeah, if you're not careful, you're going down on a pretty screwed pitfall.

So what does Christ say and the Bible exactly say about material wealth, minimalism, generosity and selflessness?

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
“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.

1 Timothy 6:7-10 ESV
For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Matthew 6:33 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Matthew 6:25-32 ESV
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...

Luke 12:29-31 ESV
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Not exactly from the Bible, but worth keeping:

“When someone strips a man of his clothes, we call him a thief. And one who might clothe the naked does not–should not he be given the same name? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat in your wardrobe belongs to the naked; the shoes you let rot belong to the barefoot; the money in your vaults belongs to the destitute.” -Basil the Great-

(got it from this Kathleen | Becoming Peculiar, she has awesome insight about minimalism too! Go check it out)

I love what Charles Specht said about minimalism in his blog

"True biblical Christianity, then, is minimalism at its very core. It is, as Wikipedia has defined it, eliminating all the non-essential forms, features or concepts, and focusing all our heart, mind, soul and strength on the Lord."