Matthew 6: 22- Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Minimalism isn't just some new fad I've adopted. I have a growing hatred and disgust for the consumerism and wasteful mindset that is so prevalent in the United States. We aren't satisfied with what we have and we are spending a great deal of our time and resources on accumulating more while so many are barely scraping by or even worse don't have a place to call home.
What makes me even sadder is how this has infiltrated Christians as well. How can we sit casually by while this world is hurting? Can you really be comfortable visiting your second homes while there are people out there who have nothing? Are we going to sink our money into expensive vehicles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc. instead of investing in God's Kingdom? How elaborate do our church buildings need to be? How much are we budgeting for those conferences?
If you're defensive at this point, let me say this; I am not judging you. How you spend your time and money is between you and God, but I have made a judgment on why I think we are called to something much higher....and sacrificial. It is soundly based on the word of God and I have to add that if we, those who have a relationship with Jesus, can't be sacrificial when it comes to material possessions then how can we fulfill His ministry?
Here are some verses for you to meditate on:
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 19:21-26 Jesus answered, "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." When the young man heard this he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."
1 Timothy 6:6-12 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. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I am no better than the next person. I spend money unnecessarily too. I spend on things I enjoy or that my children enjoy. But what if we all only spent on what is necessary? What if we were content with our basic needs? What if we give more than we take? What would a world that has Christians living a life of sacrifice look like?
What excess can you stop in your life? What is God calling you to invest in instead?
Minimalism isn't just some new fad I've adopted. I have a growing hatred and disgust for the consumerism and wasteful mindset that is so prevalent in the United States. We aren't satisfied with what we have and we are spending a great deal of our time and resources on accumulating more while so many are barely scraping by or even worse don't have a place to call home.
What makes me even sadder is how this has infiltrated Christians as well. How can we sit casually by while this world is hurting? Can you really be comfortable visiting your second homes while there are people out there who have nothing? Are we going to sink our money into expensive vehicles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc. instead of investing in God's Kingdom? How elaborate do our church buildings need to be? How much are we budgeting for those conferences?
If you're defensive at this point, let me say this; I am not judging you. How you spend your time and money is between you and God, but I have made a judgment on why I think we are called to something much higher....and sacrificial. It is soundly based on the word of God and I have to add that if we, those who have a relationship with Jesus, can't be sacrificial when it comes to material possessions then how can we fulfill His ministry?
Here are some verses for you to meditate on:
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 19:21-26 Jesus answered, "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." When the young man heard this he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."
1 Timothy 6:6-12 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. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I am no better than the next person. I spend money unnecessarily too. I spend on things I enjoy or that my children enjoy. But what if we all only spent on what is necessary? What if we were content with our basic needs? What if we give more than we take? What would a world that has Christians living a life of sacrifice look like?
What excess can you stop in your life? What is God calling you to invest in instead?
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