Would you characterize your life as simple? If you don’t, would you want to characterize your life as simple? Simple seems good but usually does not fit the reality of everyday living. If you were to make a short list of the items that take up your personal bandwidth, my guess is that it would include stuff like family (husband, wife, children, parents, grandchildren), church, work, education, and various hobbies. Although these are great things, most of us would say we desire a simpler lifestyle.
Minimalism
One popular way of folks expressing their desire for a simpler lifestyle is known as minimalism. “Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.”1 “Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.”2
This simpler lifestyle seeks to clear life’s clutter, such that a person’s life is easier, happier, more free, and fulfilled.
The leading renowned minimalists describe minimalism this way: “By incorporating minimalism into our lives, we’ve finally been able to find lasting happiness—and that’s what we’re all looking for, isn’t it? We all want to be happy. Minimalists search for happiness not through things, but through life itself; thus, it’s up to you to determine what is necessary and what is superfluous in your life.”3 For these guys, minimalism has helped them. They claim it has helped them:
- Eliminate our discontent
- Reclaim our time
- Live in the moment
- Pursue our passions
- Discover our missions
- Experience real freedom
- Create more, consume less
- Focus on our health
- Grow as individuals
- Contribute beyond ourselves
- Rid ourselves of excess stuff
- Discover purpose in our lives
Minimalism and the Christian
Wow. Sounds inviting doesn’t it?
Not for the Christian – at least not in the same way. There are any number of biblical critiques you could provide for this list (although that is beside the point of today’s blog). In a nutshell, minimalism confuses blessings in life which include some practical ways of living with biblical wisdom. They exchange living for God’s glory with happiness and some practical, productive tools for living – getting rid of excess.
I’ll come back to a full treatment of minimalism on another day. (For now though – please do not confuse my critique of minimalism with a statement against living simply, effectively, and wisely for the glory of God, which should be every person’s goal.)
The Common Burden
This is where the world’s wisest man helps us. King Solomon describes the struggle and provides us a way forward. He writes the following words about the struggle:
12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine
all that has been accomplished on earth.
I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task
that keeps them occupied.
14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth,
and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile—like chasing the wind
15 What is bent cannot be straightened,
and what is missing cannot be supplied.16 I thought to myself,
“I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem;
I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”
17 So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas;
however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
18 For with great wisdom comes great frustration;
whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.(Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)
Solomon describes many of the same goals as minimalism (different words of course) as he tells about his own struggle to be wise and simple. The wisest guy on earth describes this journey as frustrating. It is like chasing after wind – you may try but you can’t do it.
Fascinating to me is the fact that he describes this pursuit of understanding life, searching for life’s meaning from inside ourselves (our perspective, not God’s outside perspective), and making sense of our world as the burdensome task God has given to mankind. Get this… The desire to know more, understand more, make sense of our world, and have a rested soul actually comes from God.
What is better then?
13 Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
because this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will evaluate every deed,
including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
What is the conclusion and warning for each of us?
First, fear God. By this Solomon exhorts us to live with God in mind always. Respect what God wants. Trust God’s character. Recognize that God rules the universe and through Christ should rule our hearts. The first and best way to live wisely, simply, and have rest is to put God first in your life. Minimalism says to put yourself first and live in ways that provide you benefits. God says to put Him first.
Second, keep God’s commandments. Not only should we live with God in mind always, but we should also strive to obey God in everything. What does a life of obedience bring? A life of obedience provides you with many benefits and blessings. Following God’s commands carefully helps provide you many of the same benefits that those practicing minimalism desire.
Here’s the difference: Minimalism does some things well but with the wrong motive – pleasure of self. Living with the fear of God and obeying His commandments do many things well and with the right motive – pleasure of God, which includes love of neighbor and denying self.
Live Simple and Wisely with Rest
Therefore, follow God first and foremost while keeping His commandments. This lifestyle provides you the best God has to offer while at the same time blesses those all around you.
However, there is one more benefit. As Solomon says, “For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” As we live for God and enjoy the benefits, we also prepare for the ultimate evaluation from God. We enjoy the lifestyle that godliness provides without having to worry about a future evaluation as well. That’s rest.
Image Credit Danielle MacInnes
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together