Ok, my recent situation has promted me to examine the way that I live in general. I've become fasinated with the idea of Minimalism. Less is more is a beautiful and truthful concept which in my opinion everyone should try and follow. The Lord told his disciples to give up their possesions and follow Him. So, why shouldn't we be setting that as one of our spiritual goals as Christians? So in this thread I'm going to give a brief example of what a minimalist life means to me and I hope a few people get some insight and inspiration.
Basic means for human survival: (4)
- Water: for bathing and also for drinking. The human body is 99% water so it's only natural water to be the main source of human survival.
- Food: Now, we're not talking about junk food or any kind of food that does not nourish the human body. Those types of foods are not needed for human survival. Healthy more nourishing foods such as fruits and vegetables, meats (but non fattening), poultry, and fish are the foods needed for human survival.
- Shelter: Of course, we need to shelter ourselves from the harshness of the Earths weather patterns and also a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Nowadays there's more involved with it comes to shelter. Basically, for me, all that would be needed is a couch and small chair in my living room and a bookshelf to store good reads, a small dining area with a small table and enough chairs for everyone in the family, a small but efficient kitchen with a good working stove, a good cooling refrigerator, a sink that worked, and some storage space for dishes, and a bedroom with a bed with sheets and a warm blanket and a small nightstand to place an alarm clock and a small lamp on. Individual needs vary among everyone.
- Clothing: Simple clean lines and less graphic details as long as it is the appropriate attire for the season. Shoes that are durable and won't ware and that are also comfortable.
Luke 12: 15-21
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 his possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Matthew 6: 19-21
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Ecclesiastes 2: 8, 11
8 "I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man."
11" Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
I just wanted to share this with you and hope that it will make you think a little and examine more how you too live your own life in Christ and for Christ. He died so that we may live a more peaceful, simple, hassle free life. Amen
