LIVING THE LIFE OF A MINIMALIST! If you knew Jesus was coming within ten years, five years, or three years how would you live your life? In preparation for hard times, it is suggested that we simplify. How do we simplify?

We have been looking at how to successfully manage our money and the resources God has given us. We have determined that successfully managing money and possessions involves putting God first in everything we do.

When times get hard, we need to trust God. We now look at some biblical counseling on managing during hard times.

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Seeking God’s Guidance

Holy Father, take away our desire for desire more and more. Help us learn to be content with what we have and learn to live with less. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Simplifying suggests streamlining to get rid of excess possessions and focus on what really matters.

The current trend among some is minimalism. Minimalism is a lifestyle or movement that emphasizes simplicity and living with less. For years we have been a materialistic society.  

Materialism is the belief that material possessions and wealth are the most important aspects of life, leading to a focus on consumerism and the accumulation of possessions.

Whereas, Minimalism, on the other hand, emphasizes living with less, simplifying one’s life, and focusing on what truly matters, such as experiences, relationships, and personal growth. It is a deliberate rejection of the consumerist mindset of materialism.

 There are now even bloggers who offer suggestions on how to declutter and rid our homes of those things we don’t really need.  

The question is, as people of God, what should we be doing during these tough times? Should we hunker down and move into survival mode as the minimalist?

There is much evidence based on the Bible that indicates that we are living in the end times and that Jesus is soon to come. How, then, should we be using the money and resources God has given us?

Should we not be using it to support God’s work on earth? Is it not time to let others know that Jesus saves us from our sins? Should we not let them know about the wonderful things God has prepared for us in heaven?

No, we do not know when, but we can be sure that someday soon, all our earthly possessions will be burned up along with this entire planet.

Here is what Peter in 2 Peter 3:3–12 tells us about the end times.

3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (Split)

5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:3-12)

We can be sure that when this time comes, we will not be able to take our possession to heaven! Everything on earth will burn up.

Fire will destroy all traces of sin and evil except for the scars in Jesus’ hands designed to remind us of how evil sin is and what Jesus had to do to redeem us from a sin-cursed world.

So, what should we do with all our stuff? Is it not time to simplify?  Here is what has been suggested in the book Counsels on Stewardship (Split)

“It is now that our brethren should be cutting down their possessions instead of increasing them. We are about to move to a better country, even a heavenly. Then let us not be dwellers upon the earth, but be getting things as compact as possible.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p. 59. 

The writer Ellen White wrote these words more than a hundred years ago! Yet, Jesus has not come. But the important principle remains the same: time always is short.

How long will we live? Perhaps 60, 80, or 100 years but what is even 100 in contrast to eternity?

 As a matter of fact, your life can end today. Then the next time you open your eyes, you will see Jesus coming in the clouds. Now, how fast is that?

As believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must always put God first. We must keep ever in our view eternal life.

No, this is not to say we put everything aside and just wait until Jesus returns. We should continue to work hard to provide for ourselves and our families. And whatever God has given us, we are free to enjoy it now with God’s blessings.

But at the same time, God expects us not to be selfish or greedy. Hence it may not be necessary to become a minimalist.

However, we should be moving toward simplifying our life. This we can do by sharing our excess with those in need.

 We must give what we can to help the poor and those that are in need. Yet, we should remember that our money and the things we possess will be worth nothing when Jesus comes back.

So, what is important is that we do not allow our money and the things we possess destroy our spiritual lives.

Some find it difficult to decide how best to simplify. What measures should we take to simplify? Find out on Day 5: Priorities

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