The Minimalist’s Path to Spirituality – Attempts at Honesty

This is a guest post by Sharron Torres. If you would like to contribute an article for Attempts at Honest, please review our Guest Post Guidelines and contact us.

In today’s consumerism-driven society, we surround ourselves with things: material goods are unnecessary for survival, things that do not serve us in any truly beneficial manner. In 2011, it was reported that Americans spend 1.2 trillion annually on nonessential items. This is an astonishing figure and one that emphasizes how wasteful human nature can be. Besides hindering our financial well-being, this material excess undoubtedly hinders our relationship with Christ. As possessions pile up around us, our minds become clouded. The path to spirituality is diluted. We lose sight of our true purpose as children of God. But by stripping away these belongings, we can begin to focus on that which is truly important to living a spiritually focused life.

Simplicity
as an Act of Worship

God does
not measure you by what you own. No amount of shopping or material accumulation
will earn your place in Heaven. Research shows that the amount spent on Black Friday, a single weekend, is more
than half f what is donated to churches in America every year. The apparent
need to fill your life with things is not an innate urge installed by your
creator, but a compulsion implanted by advertising companies and media
conglomerates. These forces are simply distractions from your greater purpose.
This lesson is apparent in Matthew 19:21:

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Unburden
your physical existence and give to the less fortunate that which you do not
require. When we minimize our earthly possessions and turn our attention to
God, these material goods are converted into spiritual wealth. Cleanse the
clutter in your life. Let this be a new spiritual practice to live by. If the
Lord is what we truly seek, then the Lord is all we truly need.

Minimalism
is not Poverty

A life
rooted in minimalism and simplicity need not be confused with a life of
impoverishment. Minimalism is not an encouragement to renounce life as you know
it and live out your days as a pauper. It is a call to embrace that which you
need to survive comfortably and to release yourself from the rest. This is not
only a renouncement of superfluous possessions but also behaviors, addictions,
and even relationships. This is not always an easy path to walk; it may be
helpful to seek the assistance of friends, family, or luxury rehab centers to start your new journey. The minimalistic lifestyle may
seem to affront at first, but when we surrender the comforts found in external
things, we can truly begin to value our internal strengths and merits properly.
When materialism is forfeited and simplicity is embraced, the path to God is
illuminated.