10 Bible Verses Supporting Minimalism, Simple Living, and Contentment

God wants us to enjoy life and live intentionally. His Word gives us several verses supporting minimalism, simple living and contentment.

I’ve shared a LOT over the last year about the benefits of minimalism, and drastically reducing your possessions. All of it has been based off of what I’ve personally experienced and seen in our own home and lives. But who cares what Amanda thinks? I wanted to know what Jesus’ thought, and to find verses supporting minimalism. I did a quick Bible study on simple living, minimalism, and contentment. There aren’t too many verses where Jesus speaks directly about the benefits of owning little. Instead, His life was the perfect example. He was available to go where people needed Him most because He didn’t have possessions holding Him back. He had no excess clutter to slow Him down.

Why should a Christian care about simple living, minimalism, and contentment?

As a Christian, I am supposed to model my life and behavior after Jesus. Have you ever wanted to host bible study in your home, but you can’t because it’s cluttered or too messy? What about having to cancel a lunch date with a friend in need because your schedule is already too packed? Have you skipped putting your tithe in the offering because you’re so loaded with debt you don’t think you can afford it? A lot of times, we simply accept these things as unchangeable. We are temporarily distraught by them, but quickly accept them as hard rules. Our home is cluttered. It will always be this way. Since our schedule is packed, we’ll just stay frustrated by our stagnant friendships. I can’t obey God by giving Him back what belongs to Him, but He’ll understand, right?

These are things that God expects from us as Christians. Homes open to share God’s Word, being a friend that people can count on, and giving back a tiny bit of what the Lord generously blesses us with. Minimalism, simple living, and contentment could be the keys you need to unlock those “boundaries” you’ve set around your home, schedule, and finances.

Bible Verses Supporting Minimalism, Simple Living, and Contentment…

Luke 12:15, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Philippians 4:12&13, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengetheneth me.”
1 Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rainment let us be therewith content.”
Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is no in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than rainment?”
Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Proverbs 15:16, “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.”
Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.”
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of our mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

What I’ve concluded…

It is impossible to live a life that models Jesus’ behavior when we have homes stuffed full, schedules too busy, and finances too tight. It is impossible to truly focus on the things that matter when we’re drowning in stuff. God wants us to live a life of abundance, but not an abundance of possessions. He wants us to have abundant peace, joy, and contentment. I believe this small collection of verses prove that. It isn’t about the abundance of things. It’s about our heart.

Ready to jump in to decluttering and simplifying?

I hope these verses helped you like they did me. It gave me the encouragement I needed to keep minimizing and reducing our belongings. Not because I’m punishing us, but because I want to live abundantly!