Ever watched an episode of Hoarders? How many times did you think, “Boy, how can someone even live in those conditions?!” Maybe you’re like me and the second you switched off the TV, you went through your own bedroom and hauled a bag of stuff to the curb—just to be sure you never end up on Hoarders yourself.
Most of us don’t live in quite so extreme conditions, but that doesn’t mean “stuff” has no hold on your life or heart. It starts when you’re young and only grows into a bigger monster.
Which is why Christian teens should embrace minimalism as a model for life.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
What is Minimalism?
In its most basic definition, minimalism means owning less stuff. Less clothing, less gadgets, less everything. Ridding your life of excess and all the meaningless, useless objects we tend to surround ourselves with. It’s become a thing recently, and yet minimalists are still in the very tiny minority.
Minimalism is not a call to get rid of everything. There isn’t a rule about how many items you can own or what they can be. It simply means shaking free of the burden of too much and learning to ignore the call for the newest and latest.
Minimalism is not a call to get rid of everything.
You might be asking yourself, “Why would I want to do that?” And why is this topic covered on a blog for Christian teens and young adults? Aren’t there more pressing matters for young Christians to be worried about?
Minimalism is indeed a viable topic for a Christian blog to cover because anything that comes between you and God is an enemy—and that includes your stuff.
3 Reasons Why Christian Teens Should Embrace Minimalism
1) Minimalism makes room for what really matters.
Suppose while shopping at a thrift store, you found among the racks of everyday clothing a rare gown from a high-end fashion designer. The price tag is much more than you can afford, but way less than you know it’s worth—and the gown fits like it was made for you. What could you do? You might go home, clean out your closet and have a garage sale to sell all of your useless stuff, then take the proceeds and buy the rare find.
Maybe that sounds silly, but several individuals actually did that in Matthew 13:44-46. Why? One, they needed the money to afford the valuable treasure they found and, two, they needed to make room in their lives for it to fit.
Anything that comes between you and God is an enemy—and that includes your stuff.
Because what’s the point of obtaining something of great worth, then burying it under the old garbage?
Jesus is the priceless treasure, but too often he gets buried in the worthless stuff we surround ourselves with. Minimalism in material things makes more room for Jesus in your heart. Read on to find out why.
Related: Desiring God As the Ultimate Source of Pleasure
2) Minimalism reduces stress.
The more stuff you have, the more time and money it takes to manage it all. Have you cleaned your room lately? How about just one closet? Could you do it in less than five minutes? Can you find a given item in less than 15 seconds, or would you have to tear everything apart—or, worse, go to the store to buy another? Does it take you a long time to choose an outfit because you have too many to choose from? Do you always upgrade to the newest gadget and have a pile of the old ones stashed away somewhere?
All of this is wasted time, money, and stress. And if this is how it is when your bedroom is your primary domain, consider how much more difficult managing your stuff will become when you move into a whole apartment or house.
Remember, anything that comes between you and God is an enemy. Time spent acquiring and managing stuff is time spent away from growing closer to God. The sooner you embrace the mindset of minimalism, the easier it will be when your domain grows.
3) Less Stuff = Greater Appreciation
People who lived during the Great Depression did not waste. Period. Girls wore dresses made from flour sacks, boys wore the same patched-up pair of pants to school every day, and sometimes the only way to celebrate gifts during holidays was to go look at the goods through the windows of shops. They appreciated the little things.
Today, in our world of plenty, we want more. Nothing is ever good enough, new enough, big enough, or fast enough. As a result, nothing is ever satisfying.
And nothing will ever be satisfying because the soul craves things that cannot be purchased from a store. It wouldn’t matter how much stuff you have, you will always want more if you haven’t sought God as your greatest source of pleasure. Scaling back to a more minimalistic life not only opens your eyes to a new appreciation for every little blessing, but it also moves your focus to where true satisfaction is found.
Embrace Minimalism, Clear the Way For God
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.
Still not convinced? Check out Notes From A Minimalist Teen, written by a boy made the journey himself. For those of you who are interested in adapting to a minimalist lifestyle, find practical tips on how to do this in Part 2: 4 Steps to Minimalism for Christian Teens.
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