Will I go back to acquiring more? Personally, not anymore. I guess all it took to made me answer that is the assurance that we all can survive even if we live having only the basic essentials.

How?

Well, to be perfectly honest with you all, my husband and I made it a habit to keep only 4 sets for each kind of dining utensils which consist of a spoon, teaspoon, fork, and steak knife. For the plates, we only have two pieces for each size. I’d like to keep my wardrobe a one-week set only for each occasion if I can. No kidding. 😀

When I had my first job back in 2008, I was a compulsive shopper and I always buy a new outfit every payday. New outfit means a new pair of shoes, new top, and new pants, skirt, or shorts with a matching bag.

Then at one point, my Mom asked me a life-threatening question. lol She asked me, “Is that what you plan on doing for the rest of your life? Collect and collect stuff?” When she asked me that, I also thought that she’s right. It made me ponder about life and what really is our purpose here. What really is it that matters? Are we only working and living to acquire more possessions and that’s just it? We all know that money can’t bring you happiness even if you buy every item you see and you like that’s up for sale.

Less clutter, more joy. Keeping only what you can accommodate and needed.

When my husband and I transferred to our second home back in 2017, our place was so small. You guessed it right, the new place is not going to be the home of my enormous stuff left in our other apartment. I had no other choice but to leave them all behind and bring with us what our new and tiny apartment can only accommodate. See how God teaches how to let go of possessions if He knew it’s your waterloo?

God will provide you all that you need knowing full well how much is how much and how enough is enough.

I guess God pinpointed a particular weakness in me and brought it out in the open. I grew up in a secure home surrounded with everything I needed and wanted. It was even magnified when I started working and earning a lot because I have the freedom and more means to buy anything I wish.

Only to find out later on most especially when I became a born-again Christian that there is a fine line between having what you need and having what you want. So now, acquiring possessions became a personal conviction for me. I let go of stuff yearly and I don’t choose who I will give them to. Let fate run its course, as they say. Whoever gets hold of the item, he or she is the one who’s meant to receive it. A friend of mine encouraged me to do a garage sale and earn from it. Unfortunately, I felt it in my heart that it’s best to give them away for free.

To date, I have about 20 bags, around 15 pairs of shoes, 30 pieces of clothing, and 30 items of accessories (excluding the ones I need and frequently use) for disposal – all worn just once or thrice. By the way, I stopped buying stuff that I don’t need when I got married – the time when my priorities shifted. So this stuff I am going to give away are the remnants of the hoarding stint from 2008 until 2015. I actually gave half of the entire stuff already and just imagine the extent of the clutter that accumulated in just a span of 6 years.

This was the season that God taught me I don’t need that much if I am secure in Him who provides me everything I need. Whether I have less or plenty, God taught me how to be content. The good thing about this, too, is that once you have learned how to let go of the idea that your possessions give you security, sharing becomes easier. You now know that there are other people who might need it more than you do. To me, one bag is for fashion styling purposes only. But to someone, it can be the only bag she’s got.

So this is also how I treated my compulsive shopping tendencies if I really can’t control it – buy things for other people as gifts i.e. birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. 😀 But wait, God is still not yet done with me when it comes to handling my finances. You may find this very ironic but in my job now, I was assigned to research and write articles for our finance sites even if I don’t have any background in finance. How did I end up there? I also have no idea. 😀

Ah yes, God knew removing possessions is not enough. If my spending habits are already deeply-rooted, it means a total change of the heart. Take as an example what happens during a rehabilitation. You have to have constant therapy sessions that will help you overcome withdrawal symptoms to make sure you won’t relapse and go back to your old habits. Since I love to learn, God brought me to a whole lot of articles how to manage finances wisely using my job as the instrument to learn them.

I actually have so many experiences to share that are related to money management and all but I think this article is too long already. I might brush up on it again in my future articles.

If I am to make an assessment now how I fared back in 2008 and 10 years after, I’d say a whole lot has changed. It was a gradual (grueling at some point) but a faith-challenging season in terms of using God-given resources (money and possessions) wisely.

I just find it funny sometimes when I look back and contemplate that in everything when God makes lasting changes on you, it is always a 180-degree turn. From bad girl to good girl, from a hoarder to a minimalist, from greedy to a giver – it’s always the opposite but for the better. 😉

Before I end this article, here are a couple of bible verses to help you align your heart with what matters to God in the same way they have aligned mine:

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

—-

Luke 12:33-34 ESV

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

—-

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

—-

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

—-

Matthew 16:26 ESV

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

—-

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

—-

1 Timothy 6:9 ESV

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

—-

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

—-

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

—-

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

—-

1 John 2:16 ESV

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

—-

Acts 4:32-35 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

—-

Psalm 37:7-9 ESV

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

—-

1 Timothy 6:7 ESV

For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

—-

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

In what areas financially do you currently struggle with? I’d like to know as well how you overcame them. 🙂

From a minimalist by heart and forever will be,

P.S.

There are still more bible verses related to money and possessions and you may find them here at this link: https://www.openbible.info/topics/material_possessions.