Nathan ClaphamWas Jesus a minimilist?
28 Dec 2011 | Central Coast, NSW
Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” “Friend", He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:13-15. HSBC.
Minimilism, besides describing movements in art and design, is often used by people desiring to live a simple life, particularly one unencumbered by too many possessions. Did Jesus embrace a minimialist life?
The Bible has a lot to say about possessions. On the one hand we see that God's promisses of blessing to Abraham included an abundance of posessions. In Job we see that possessions are in God's hands, just as easily taken as increased. And in the end, pursuing possessions is futile:
All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them ... When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecc 2:10-11. HSBC.
Jesus didn't seem to feel the need to obtain any possessions, at least the type of things we think to possess. He says:
Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Matt 6:19. HSBC.
Notes:
- Possessions -> give security
