Less is More?

Recently, our family watched a documentary about minimalism. And I was hooked.

Having less stuff? Sounds like a great idea! Then the stuff I do have can be really nice, without clearing my bank account! I’m starting small, but am going to try to have less stuff wherever and whenever possible.

Minimalism can certainly be a good thing. But what do we need to be wary of, as we set out on a quest to have less?

Well, first of all…

It Cannot Be OUr identity

In the documentary we watched, the main pull towards minimalism was that it gave people joy to have less stuff. More than the buying things for the sake of it had given them.

Problem: They’re just shifting their hope from one thing to the next.

Yes, it gives them joy for a little while, but just like having and buying stuff didn’t satisfy them, being a minimalist won’t either.

As Christians, we know that our hope, our identity comes from who we are in Christ.

You are not someone who has all the nicest stuff. You are not a minimalist. You are a child of God.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 2:9-10 (bold added)

It Can HelP Us FOcus On What Matters

There are definitely some downfalls in having lots of stuff.

Mainly the cleaning part.

Seriously, though, how much time do you spend in a day cleaning up all of your things? How much of that stuff do you really need?

And what about the money you spend on your things. Is that really the best use of your hard earned cash?

When we have little, we can spend the time and money that our things used to take up, for God’s glory.

Not that you can’t clean for God’s glory. But if caring for your stuff is taking up time that God has called you to do other things, that’s a problem.

Pray about the stuff you have, and the time you spend on it. Instead of reorganizing your closet every other Saturday, could you have less clothes and use that time to have people over to your house? Rather than spending your money on another cool new thing, could that money go to someone in need?

As Christians, we can have stuff! But we must remember where our identity comes from, and pray about whether we are using our time and resources wisely.

And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’

Luke 12:15

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