Reject Materialism

Reject Materialism: Practical Guide

This page provides practical guides for rejecting materialism and living simply and generously. Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money, and that we should not store up treasures on earth. This is central to our movement’s anti-materialism principle.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.” - Matthew 6:24

Scripture Foundation

Key Passages:

Why Rejecting Materialism Matters

Materialism competes with God for our loyalty. Wealth accumulation can become an obstacle to following Jesus. Living simply and generously frees us to serve God and others.

Voluntary Simplicity

What Is Voluntary Simplicity?

Definition:

  • Living with less by choice
  • Focusing on what matters
  • Reducing attachment to possessions
  • Finding freedom in simplicity

Why It Matters:

  • Frees us to serve God
  • Reduces anxiety about material things
  • Allows us to be more generous
  • Aligns with Jesus’ teachings

Getting Started:

  • Evaluate your possessions
  • Identify what you don’t need
  • Start simplifying one area
  • Practice gratitude for what you have

Going Deeper:

  • Create a plan for simplicity
  • Reduce consumption
  • Focus on experiences over things
  • Build community around simplicity

See Also: Jesus on Wealth

Practical Steps for Simplicity

This Week:

  • Identify one area to simplify
  • Give away something you don’t need
  • Reduce one unnecessary expense
  • Practice gratitude

This Month:

  • Simplify multiple areas
  • Reduce consumption
  • Give away more
  • Build a practice

Ongoing:

  • Make simplicity a way of life
  • Regularly evaluate possessions
  • Practice gratitude
  • Support others in simplicity

Stewardship Practices

What Is Stewardship?

Definition:

  • Managing resources well
  • Using what we have to serve God
  • Being responsible with money and possessions
  • Investing in eternal things

Why It Matters:

  • Resources are gifts to be used well
  • We’re called to be good stewards
  • Stewardship frees us to serve
  • It aligns with Jesus’ teachings

Getting Started:

  • Evaluate how you use resources
  • Create a budget
  • Set giving goals
  • Practice generosity

Going Deeper:

  • Develop a stewardship plan
  • Increase giving
  • Use resources to serve others
  • Invest in eternal things

See Also: Jesus on Wealth

Generosity Initiatives

Practicing Generosity

What This Means:

  • Giving freely and sacrificially
  • Sharing resources with others
  • Using wealth to serve God and others
  • Following the widow’s example

Getting Started:

  • Increase your giving
  • Give sacrificially, not just from abundance
  • Support organizations serving others
  • Practice generosity daily

Going Deeper:

  • Make generosity a way of life
  • Create structures for giving
  • Support others in generosity
  • Measure generosity by sacrifice, not amount

See Also: Jesus on Wealth, Serve the Poor

Starting Generosity Initiatives

Step 1: Identify Needs

  • What needs exist in your community?
  • Where can generosity make a difference?
  • What resources do you have?

Step 2: Create a Plan

  • How will you give?
  • What are your goals?
  • How will you sustain it?

Step 3: Take Action

  • Start giving
  • Learn as you go
  • Adjust as needed

Step 4: Sustain and Grow

  • Build a practice
  • Encourage others
  • Expand gradually

See Also: Community Projects

Consumerism Alternatives

Understanding Consumerism

What It Is:

  • The belief that buying things brings happiness
  • Constant desire for more
  • Identity tied to possessions
  • Exploitation of workers and environment

Why It Matters:

  • It’s incompatible with following Jesus
  • It exploits people and creation
  • It prevents generosity
  • It creates anxiety

Action Steps:

  • Recognize consumerism in your life
  • Reject the message that buying brings happiness
  • Find alternatives
  • Support ethical businesses

See Also: Jesus on Wealth

Finding Alternatives

Alternatives Include:

  • Buying less
  • Buying used
  • Supporting ethical businesses
  • Focusing on experiences over things
  • Building community over consumption

Getting Started:

  • Evaluate your buying habits
  • Find alternatives
  • Support ethical businesses
  • Build community

Going Deeper:

  • Create a plan to reduce consumption
  • Support alternatives to consumerism
  • Advocate for ethical business practices
  • Build community around simplicity

Practical Steps

This Week

  • Evaluate your relationship with money and possessions
  • Identify one area to simplify
  • Give away something you don’t need
  • Increase your giving

This Month

  • Simplify multiple areas
  • Create a stewardship plan
  • Practice generosity regularly
  • Reduce consumption

Ongoing

  • Make simplicity and generosity a way of life
  • Regularly evaluate possessions
  • Practice gratitude
  • Support others in simplicity

Common Challenges

I need my possessions

Evaluate what you truly need. Start with what you don’t need. Build gradually.

What about saving for the future?

Saving is wise, but don’t let it become hoarding. Trust God for your needs. Balance saving with giving.

How do I know what to give away?

Start with what you don’t use. Ask: Does this serve God or me? Build gradually.

What if I can’t afford to give?

Give what you can. Even small acts of generosity matter. Give your time and presence.

Connection to Policy

Rejecting materialism connects to policy:

See Also: Policy

Connection to Community

Simplicity and generosity are best practiced in community:

See Also: Community

See Also

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Action