Minimalism is a thing these days, especially for those in my generation. I think we’ve all started to realize that we don’t need as much stuff as we think we do.

This year, one of my resolutions I made was to donate or throw away one item each day for a year. So far, this has been an easy process because I’ve needed to declutter for a while.

As I have thought about this resolution, I’ve considered: Why not just go through everything and pick out 365 (well 366 since it’s leap year) items to give get rid of? It’s definitely something to consider and then I would be done with that resolution for the year.

Yet, giving away something everyday really causes me to feel it because I have to intentionally find something to get rid of before the day is over. At the end of each day, I put one item either in the trash or in a donation bin, and as I do this, I am reminded that God provides all that I need and has graciously given me all that I have. Reducing my possessions to just those that I will have intentionally chosen to keep, reminds me that all I have belongs to God and I am a steward of His gifts. This is a daily habit I am creating in my life.

This resolution is so much more than just becoming a minimalist, setting a trend, or cleaning my room. This is about a deeper love, gratitude, and understanding for what has been given to me by God.

As a Christian, I believe that everything I have is from God. If God created all and is in charge of all, then He is also the one responsible for giving me all that I have. And yet, I don’t often live like this is true of my life.

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He told them not to take extra things with them for the journey. (See Matthew 10:9-15.)

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.”

Matthew 10:9-10 (NIV)

These men were essentially told to go be homeless as they traveled for a while proclaiming the message of the Kingdom. Often, this is the passage that is quoted in connection with minimalists, saying that clearly Jesus wants us to only have a few things.

We also read about the man who Jesus told to go sell everything and then follow him. (See Matthew 19:16-22.)

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21 (ESV)

So it seems like Jesus was really into this whole minimalist trend! I mean, He told His disciples to get rid of extra luggage they wanted to bring along their journey and told a man to sell everything in order to follow Him. It seems, from these verses and others, that Jesus is either a minimalist or else He really wants to promote homelessness! 😉

But I don’t think the lack of possessions is the point in either of these stories. Instead, I think the point is about the space created in their lives to truly live out the gospel. Jesus was helping them create space in their lives to live fully human.

Being human is about dependence on God, because we are dependent on God for absolutely everything! He has given us breath in our lungs, formed our bodies, provided food we can eat that gives us nourishment and keeps us alive, and so much more! We are dependent on God in so many ways!

By giving away things that I have relied on in the past, there’s more space for me to practice active dependence on God. I am dependent on God not only for all the normal human physical things we need each day (air, water, food, sleep, etc.) but also dependent on God for the invisible things like love, acceptance, forgiveness, grace, and joy!

Minimizing my possessions has helped me become more grateful for and generous with the things I have. I truly believe that this is a Christian practice. By simplifying my life, I have more capacity, time, and space for the things that matter the most. It’s not an instant equation of give an item away = get more time with God/living more missionally with God. BUT it is progress…one degree of glory to the next, am I right?! And reducing the things I have creates a unique awareness of God’s presence in my life that I have really enjoyed experiencing.

So yes, minimizing is trending uphill right now in culture. It’s the newest thing to make your space look tidy, modern, and ready for the perfect Insta pic! But it’s so much more than that! Minimizing is about simplifying your life so you can increase space for the most important things in life. And I would argue, that includes the importance of being fully dependent on God.

How can you follow God in faithfulness in light of this? What does this look like in your life? Maybe it’s similar to my New Year’s resolution of reducing the things I have by creating a daily habit, in order to create space for the things that matter more. Maybe it’s something else! Either way, let’s be faithful men and women who seek after God not only with our all but with our very best!