A Biblical Perspective on Letting Go — Tying minimalism to faith
Minimalism often gets a bad reputation. People typically picture an empty home, bare walls, and a life stripped of all the good the world has to offer. But from a Biblical perspective, minimalism isn’t about owning as little as possible; it’s about keeping our hearts free from the love of material things. Scripture reminds us in Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” Do Christians take this verse seriously today, in a world with the temptation to buy whatever the eye desires?
Biblical minimalism is about freedom—not just from clutter but from the grip of materialism. At its root, materialism robs us of contentment in Christ and hinders us from letting go of our stuff. I don’t want to shame anyone who has an overly cluttered house. I get the temptation is strong! You can’t go anywhere without an advertisement in your face. Especially now that companies and our smartphones collect our information and push ads specific to what we like, want, and think we need. However, I want Christians to consider Biblical minimalism as a heart posture before the Lord. I want Christians to realize that the world wants you to be a consumer, and we have to fight back with the Spirit, exhibit self-control, and cultivate contentment.
What does it look like to pursue minimalism without falling into the extremes of legalism? After all, every good gift is from God! The clothes we wear, the cars we drive, and the ability to buy things for a comfortable lifestyle are all great and extraordinary blessings from our loving heavenly Father. We ought to receive all that we have with thanksgiving and show gratitude to Christ. Let’s break down how we can cultivate contentment, steward our possessions wisely, and keep our hearts unstained from the world.
Cultivate Contentment
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that,” 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
Contentment starts with recognizing what God has already provided. We must train ourselves to see His blessings, big and small, and quiet the urge to constantly seek more. Philippians 4:11-13 is a powerful reminder to rely on Christ in every circumstance we face, “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Discontentment robs us of the spiritual blessing of trusting God in all circumstances. When we are quick to make purchases and fill our lives with possessions, we reveal our lack of trust in God’s provision. God did not create us to be dependent on the world’s goods but on Him as our ultimate provider.
I become discontent easily if life stays the same for too long. I crave change, and I have to remind myself constantly to trust God’s sovereign will and plan for my life. Thankfully, God brings about “change” in His perfect timing, and while I am waiting on Him, I learn to trust Him more and more. What a relief that Paul clarifies he had to learn to be content. Clearly, this idea of contentment doesn’t come naturally! But how can we learn contentment and overcome materialism if we don’t deny ourselves the luxury of consuming as much as we want, whenever we want?
Practice gratitude! Praise God for what you already have and worship by allowing Him to provide you with real spiritual blessings that don’t come from what the world has to offer. Rely on Jesus to give you strength in every circumstance you face. Don’t just thank God for your material possessions; thank Him for your friends, family, and moments with others throughout the day.
CHALLENGE: For the next thirty days, try asking God whether you should make the purchases you are considering. Make a list of everything you want to buy and offer it to Him. At the end of the thirty days, review the list and evaluate whether you truly needed to make any of those purchases after all. God may give you the green light on a few of the purchases! But we must ask Him first as we learn contentment under His care.
Steward Your Possessions Well
Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
After discussing contentment and learning to focus on what we already have, it’s important to recognize that covetousness involves focusing on what we lack. Comparison fuels our discontentment and says, “Look at what they have that I don’t.” What a slap in the face toward God, who richly supplies all that you need. Obviously, the driving tempter in this is social media. Social media magnifies what we lack as we scroll through our friends’ and influencers’ pages. While it tempts us, we can’t blame it entirely for our covetousness; we must examine our own hearts. Coveting existed long before Instagram and Facebook!
God says in Exodus as part of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Wanting things that don’t belong to you is a form of wickedness that can lead to greater evil. Take the example of David and Bathsheba: David’s desire for her ultimately resulted in the murder of her husband. While it’s unlikely that American Christians are committing murder over material possessions today, we do see this desire manifesting in other ways: excessive materialism.
On Black Friday, people rush through crowded stores, trampling one another and fighting over the last Tickle Me Elmo doll. TikTok promotes the “lowest prices of the season, selling out fast,” enticing everyone to make impulsive purchases, only to discover that the items are often of poor quality. Our homes are overflowing with these unneeded purchases, and our hearts struggle to keep up with the Joneses.
As Jesus reminds us, we must be on guard against these things! A Christian’s worth is not tied to their possessions; true abundance comes from a heart aligned with God and His will for your life. We must be cautious not to think wickedly and desire what is not ours or covet to the point of spending money on things that don’t produce fruit for the kingdom of God. We must not be possessive of our belongings either, but we must hold them loosely, knowing God can give and take them away.
Regularly declutter not just to “get rid of stuff,” but intentionally ask yourself: does this item serve God’s purpose for my life, or is it just taking up space? I heard Elisabeth Elliot once say that Hudson Taylor would routinely discard anything he hadn’t used in a year because he wanted someone else to receive the blessing it was not providing for him. Try this in your own life and see how much space is clears up mentally and physically.
CHALLENGE: Try getting off TikTok, Amazon, Instagram, and any other platform for 21 days that inclines you to covet things that don’t belong to you or desire stuff you don’t need.
Give Generously
Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
One of the most fruitful things about Biblical minimalism is generosity. The less we consume for ourselves, the more we have to give to others. If we take a minimal lifestyle approach, we can take seriously the words “of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).'”
Americans are among the wealthiest people globally! Even if you think you have little, you have more than 90% of the rest of the world if you make $20,000 a year, according to ‘How Rich Am I.’ The Pew Research Center did a study, and 62% of Americans identify as Christians—followers of Jesus who taught radical generosity, selflessness, and care for the poor.
So, a hard truth that people don’t recognize: if the majority of the wealthiest nation on earth, who also claim to follow Christ, truly lived out Biblical generosity, the world would look very different. Heck, your own community would look very different.
I’m not just talking about a tithe to the local church or giving when it is asked of you or convenient.
Jesus calls us to live with open hands and to care for the orphans, widows, hungry, and the hurting. Imagine the impact if we shifted even a small portion of what we spend on ourselves toward building God’s kingdom. I don’t say any of this to be critical but to stir reflection on how we spend our money. God wants a cheerful giver, not someone who gives out of compulsion. If you are not ready to give from a heart of worship, take some time to pray about it and ask God to help you be more generous.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Those living in America are rich, and those in Christ are rich! The next time you plan to buy something for yourself, consider whether someone else you know might also need something. If you’re unsure about your own purchase, perhaps consider buying something for another person instead.
CHALLENGE: Take the next thirty days to go through your home and set aside anything you think someone else might need more than you. Donate the items to a local shelter or church.
“True wealth isn’t measured by what we keep; it’s revealed by what we give.”
Eternal Treasures
Jesus couldn’t have been clearer in Matthew 6:19-21, “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… For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
True contentment can be found when we understand the world is not our home and we are living for a greater purpose than building “a life we love” here on earth. While it isn’t wrong or bad to create a life you love and are proud of, it isn’t the main point! A Christian’s main priority is living a life pleasing to God and building His kingdom!
Jesus told the man who had everything, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,” Matthew 19:21. Biblical minimalism calls believers to focus on heavenly treasures rather than earthly comforts.
CHALLENGE: Reflect on this question: If I lost everything today, would Christ be enough?
Living with open hands
Biblical minimalism is not simply about having less; it focuses on creating space for what truly matters: a deeper connection with God, increased generosity, and greater freedom from the love of money and envy. When we let go of our grip on stuff, we loosen the chains of materialism and walk more boldly in faith in a God who supplies all our needs. We don’t need to feel bad for what we have been given; we should receive it with gladness. However, we should hold fast to the eternal and not cling to the temporary. I hope this message has encouraged you to let go and embrace Biblical minimalism.
