8 Decluttering Principles We Can Learn from the Bible

I know not everyone who will read this article is a Christian. And I’ve tried to write in a way that is mindful of that.

But the Bible says a lot about possessions. In fact, Jesus talked about money and material things more than almost any other topic—probably because He understood how easily they capture our attention and shape our priorities.

In every case, His invitation was the same: Our lives are more valuable than this world. And trading our resources to accumulate more of it is a cheap substitute for real joy.

But more than that, giving up our resources in pursuit of worldly abundance often costs us the very things we’re hoping to find—things like joy, meaning, significance, and lasting fulfillment.

Though I don’t often discuss my personal faith on Becoming Minimalist, biblical wisdom has shaped my minimalism journey probably more than anything else. And I believe they can benefit anyone—regardless of where they stand spiritually.

In fact, here are eight decluttering principles found in the Bible that can benefit all of us.

1. Your Heart Follows Your Treasure (Not the Other Way Around)

Where we invest our time, money, and attention, our affections naturally follow. We don’t first love possessions and then decide to buy more of them; we buy more of them and then discover our hearts have become attached. Decluttering reverses that pull. Every item we release loosens the grip of things over our priorities and redirects our heart toward what truly lasts.

To learn more: Matthew 6:19–21

2. Giving Is Better Than Receiving

Scripture declares it plainly: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Generosity is not just good for the recipient; it is medicine for our own soul. The moment we see our excess as an opportunity to bless someone else, letting go becomes easier—and often joyful. Owning less creates space for open hands.

To learn more: Acts 20:35

3. Greed Can Sneak Up on Us

Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” Greed often goes unnoticed in our lives, while it subtly convinces us that just a little more will finally be enough. Clutter is often the physical evidence of that crafty lie. Decluttering forces us to confront it head-on and choose contentment instead.

To learn more: Luke 12:15

4. Contentment Is Gain

“Godliness with contentment is great gain,” Paul wrote. We arrived with nothing and we leave with nothing—so the true measure of wealth is learning to be satisfied with enough. Contentment is an active skill we practice by owning less than our culture says we need. And each intentional release strengthens that muscle.

To learn more: 1 Timothy 6:6–8

5. Worry Can Quickly Lead to Clutter

When we worry about tomorrow—about having enough, looking successful, staying secure—we buy things to silence the fear. Possessions become insurance policies against uncertainty. But Jesus gently reminds us that worry never adds a single hour to our lives. Decluttering reduces the anxiety that fuels accumulation and frees us to trust God with tomorrow and find peace today.

To learn more: Matthew 6:25–34

6. Choose What Is Better

Life is a series of choices. Martha was busy with many good things, but Mary chose the one thing that mattered most. Our possessions demand attention—cleaning, organizing, repairing, protecting. The more we own, the more time they steal from better pursuits—relationships, rest, growth, purpose. Owning less is how we gain margin for what is truly better.

To learn more: Luke 10:38–42

7. Decluttering Helps Us Learn About Ourselves

John the Baptist’s first counsel to the crowds was surprisingly practical: share your extra shirt and don’t take more than you need. Our attachment to possessions reveals what is really going on inside—fear, pride, an identity tied to things. Facing hard-to-let-go items forces honest questions. And that self-examination, though uncomfortable, is one of the greatest gifts of owning less.

To learn more: Luke 3:10–14; Jeremiah 17:9

8. Life Is More Than What We Own

After being asked to settle a dispute over an inheritance, Jesus warns about greed and goes on to say: “A person’s life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” We already sense this truth when the newness of a purchase fades and the restlessness returns. Decluttering reminds us there is a better life waiting on the other side of less—one marked by freedom, generosity, and deeper meaning. And a meaningful life is waiting for all of us.

To learn more: Luke 12:13-15

These eight principles are invitations to a better way of life. Doesn’t every single one of them sound attractive?

That’s why I wrote Uncluttered Faith. To not just connect us to the wisdom of Jesus’s teachings, but to help us live it out and experience all the spiritual benefits of owning less.

Let go of what pulls us away from what matters most and choose what is better instead.

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About the Author: Joshua Becker is the Founder and Editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website read by over 1M readers every month. He is also a #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author and Founder of Simplify Magazine.