Minimalism has become somewhat of a fad in recent years, right alongside the tiny-house movement and the push for eco-friendly living. It’s not difficult to see why. Materialism (the opposite of minimalism) is a vicious cycle. You have to work more to buy more, and the more you buy, the more you need. (Who actually owns an iPhone with no accessories? I mean, seriously!) And the more you need, the more money you have to make.
Minimalism breaks this cycle. In my last post, Why Christian Teens Should Embrace Minimalism, I explain in detail how breaking free of materialism clears the path to better serving God. It’s not about self-idolatry—the superiority that often comes with assuming a cleaner lifestyle. It’s about removing the obstacles that prevent you from glorifying God with your life.
So how do you get started? Let’s look at some practical tips on Christian minimalism for teens
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In This Article
What Minimalism is NOT
The danger of minimalism is in assuming it’s a superior lifestyle. Yes, there are major benefits to decluttering your life and breaking free from the bonds of material things. It’s a means to a greater good, but minimalism itself is not the greater good.
Do not make the mistake of turning minimalism into another form of idolatry. The only superior lifestyle is holiness, and that can happen regardless of how much stuff you have.
It’s just a little easier when you’re not distracted by stuff. 🙂
A few points to keep in mind when it comes to Christian minimalism for teens:
- It’s about more than just cleaning out your bedroom.
- It’s not about getting rid of everything you own and living out of a suitcase.
- It’s not all or nothing. There are varying degrees of minimalism, and embracing any level will benefit you greatly.
Make Room For Jesus: 4 Steps to Christian Minimalism For Teens
1) Focus on Your Treasures in Heaven
The whole “treasures in heaven” phrase comes from Matthew 6, where Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” But there’s another verse that’s more specific on what exactly these heavenly treasures are:
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
Philippians 3:8
If you had all the money in the world to buy all the stuff you wanted, it would never fill you up. Looking to material things for lasting joy is like trying to fill a pail with holes in it. It will never be full. That’s because no one is completed by having more stuff. Only Jesus can complete you.
Keep your eye on the real treasure, and all else will fade in importance. Think of it like focusing a camera on a central object, where the background becomes blurry but the subject comes into sharp view. Make Jesus the subject of your focus. (See A Rare Treasure: Discover True Christian Joy.)
2) Guard Yourself From Materialism
To fully embrace a minimalist life, you have to stop bringing more stuff into it. Guard yourself from materialism by building strongholds around areas of temptation. If shopping has always been a favorite pastime for you, now is the time to find new activities. Go hiking, do arts and crafts (with supplies you already have), make music, serve in your community.
Minimalism is a means to a greater good, but minimalism itself is not the greater good.
If you shop, you will buy. So don’t shop.
Likewise, be careful of hanging out with people who live a life of stuff, always carrying the latest generation of tech stuff or wearing only brand-name clothing. You want to be happy with what you have and that’s easier to do when you’re not constantly comparing what you have to what someone else has.
3) Make Wiser Purchases
One wise purchase is better than ten bad ones. Choose quality over quantity. If you need a new pair of shoes, save up for quality ones that will last longer, and look for items that have more than one purpose. If that sweater will only go with one of your skirts, it’s probably not the smartest buy.
Everything you buy should be both useful and necessary.
Caution: This doesn’t mean you should get rid of everything you have and buy all new stuff in the name of multipurpose-ness. It could mean taking a closer look at the things you have and finding new ways to use them that you never thought of before.
4) Do the Big Clean Out
I don’t start with this step because it won’t matter how much you haul out of your bedroom if you haven’t kicked the habit of bringing more in. But once you’ve fixed your focus on your treasures in heaven and taken control of your shopping habits, the next step is to purge your life of excess.
For some, this is a long and painful process, one that may require lots of prayer and support from friends and family. But as you take an honest look at what you already own and start to lighten the load, you will begin to make more room for Christ to fill you with the joy that will never come from earthly things.
Helpful Resources to Get You Started on Your Decluttering Adventure
Given minimalism’s recent rise in popularity, the online world is chock-full of resources on decluttering your life and embracing minimalism. A few to start with:
- 10 Creative Decluttering Tips from Becoming Minimalist
- 4 Ways to Cut Clutter In Your Bedroom from The Spruce
- 4 Ways Minimalism Reshaped My Christian Faith from Abundant Life With Less
One Final Note on Christian Minimalism For Teens
Your soul is not a vacuum. If you remove something from it, you need to fill that space with something else.
Simply reducing the amount of stuff in your life will not bring you lasting joy. Your soul is not a vacuum. If you remove something from it, you need to fill that space with something else or that space will eventually fill itself—usually with something equally unhealthy. That is why step one, setting your focus on Christ, is so important.
Do not skip this step!
Let Jesus—not material things—be the greatest source of joy in your life.
More on Filling Your Life With Jesus
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
- How to Be More Aware of Jesus
- Let Your Life Be a Glimpse of God’s Glory
- Feed Your Faith With Psalm 119: Spiritual Encouragement For Teens
