Signora Sheila

I’d say there’s a problem with minimalism, even though I strive to be a minimalist! Because like hoarding, minimalism focuses on stuff – just from a different perspective! Not that stuff is necessarily bad. I mean, who doesn’t like a warm comfy bed? But also because God delights in blessing us. He does not enjoy seeing people suffer or go without.

When stuff becomes a problem

Stuff becomes a problem when we focus too much on it. Whether our goal is to have more and more – or to minimize as much as possible. This causes us to base our satisfaction and happiness on how much we have or don’t have. And things begin to own us instead of us owning them.

Christ teaches abundance

Christ teaches abundance. He lived it, taught it, and He gave abundantly to others. And by observing His life, we find the secret to an abundant, meaningful life. A minimal life, but one that is abundant and overflowing with generosity.

Abundant minimalism

In short, I’d say that Christ taught abundant minimalism. He didn’t have much. Yet He lived the most abundant life ever, and He wanted His followers to live in abundance too.

Ask, He taught, because God the Father wants to bless you. He wants you to have a good life. An abundant life with everything you need, and enough to share with others.

3 ways to have God’s abundant minimal life

1. No hoarding

Although Christ had little, He did not teach against having – only against hoarding.

Christ taught that while God wants to give us good things, they should not be our focus. Food, clothing, and everything we need to live, these are all good. But they don’t last. They wear out and even get stolen. That’s why Christ tells us to seek eternal things. Those are the true treasures.

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 6:19-20

2. Become a good steward

Christ was deeply grateful for what He had. He cherished God’s gifts and endeavored to use them well. He knew that everything He had on this earth came from His Father. He was only the steward of those gifts.

He even collected leftover fish and bread after meals. He saw them as gifts from his Father’s hands. Gifts to be enjoyed and cared for, not wasted. And gifts to share with others.

And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’ 

John 6:12

3. Give generously

Christ gave, and gave and gave. He kept on giving, until He had nothing left to give. But even now He’s still giving from heaven, and will continue to do so. And that’s what He teaches us to do. “Give,” He says. “Give and don’t hoard.”

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. 

Luke 6:38

So what is the problem with minimalism?

There really isn’t, as long as we don’t focus too much on stuff. Either on getting more or on getting rid of what we have. It’s when we focus too much on stuff that we lose balance and it takes over our hearts.

God delights in blessing us. And as long as we remember that we are only stewards of His blessings, we can become channels of blessing to others. Like Him we can give and give and give, and the supply will never end!

And that’s the secret of true abundant living.

Minimal, like Christ’s earthly life, but an abundantly overflowing life.

Christ had little, not even a place to lay His head. But He lived the most abundant life ever. He cared abundantly, gave abundantly, blessed abundantly, forgave abundantly, and loved abundantly. And by his life and teaching, He showed us that the true abundant life lies in giving – not in holding on to things!

I will continue to strive for a more minimal life because I like the simplicity it brings. But I only want this kind of Abundant Minimalism! One that always reaches into the storehouse for others!

So what can you take from your storehouse to share today?

📷 Image credits: bowls; grain in hands.