Christian Disciplines, Simplicity Part I

 

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. I Timothy 6:6-7 Christian Standard Bible

            When I was in the Army, we had a saying, “Use the KISS principal. Keep It Simple Stupid!” Experience has taught the Army that complicated plans often go badly. With many moving pieces there is more room for failure, for things to go wrong. When planning for the invasion of Iraq, we worked hard to develop a simple plan, one that provided an optimal chance for success. We did not develop this particular concept. We find it in scripture.

            Our world is complicated. Visit the news source of your choice and you will find a myriad of articles on a wide range of subjects. Most news outlets, including mine, enable you to select topics that you care about and tailor a newsletter for you. When I was a kid growing up in Abilene, Texas we had four choices for television programing; ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. Eventually cable came and the choices expanded. Today, via the “miracle” of the internet I craft an entertainment package that suits my personal desires. I enjoy multiple services that bring me what I want to see. I also use the same internet to write, record, produce, and post essays and PODCASTs on the topics of my choice. I maintain contact with friends scattered across the globe. All of these activities exert demands upon my time, and this is just a small snippet of my life. In many ways, my modern life is at odds with what I read in scripture.

            The passage in I Timothy reminds me that despite my efforts at accumulation, I take nothing with me. All that surrounds me, my house, my clothes, my truck, my books, and the list goes on, remains here when I die. I leave as I entered, naked at helpless. Paul reminds me of what my focus should be Godliness and Contentment. All the things of this world tend to distract me from the things of God.

⁴ Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 English Standard Version

            Scripture is filled with verses that urge me toward a simple life, one that finds its contentment in the things of God and not in the acquisition of material possessions. The world says the opposite. Satan, the great deceiver, encourages me to buy into accumulating material possessions. He wants me to believe that somehow my possessions will provide me with what I need. The writer of Proverbs recognized the futility of this approach and penned this prayer:

⁷ Two things I ask of you;

    deny them not to me before I die:

⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

    give me neither poverty nor riches;

    feed me with the food that is needful for me,

⁹ lest I be full and deny you

    and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and steal

    and profane the name of my God.

Proverbs 30:7-9 English Standard Version

            He petitioned the Lord for what he needed, not what he wanted. He recognized that possessions presented two traps. He might very well place his trust in his possessions and forget the Lord, or he might feel the pinch of want so badly that he steal and disrespect the Lord through a lack of faith. He understands the need for simplicity in his life.

            Perhaps we need to define simplicity. Though the Bible does not lay out a nice concise definition of living simply we can develop a good definition from scripture. 

Living simply means centering all your life on God, being satisfied with the blessings you have, not being consumed by desire for more, and living generously. 

Living simply goes against all this world teaches us. Living simply requires trust and faith. Let me be clear with this, faith and trust in God. We all have faith and trust in something. Living simply pushes me out of trusting wealth, possessions, and power and into trusting God. Living simply pulls me into contentment and Godliness. Jesus helps to clarify this issue in the gospel of Luke.

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34 ESV

            Living simply identifies where our heart and our hope is. When we trust God, we can live simply. When we put our trust in things of this earth, we put our trust in things that will fail. The thief breaks in and steals. Moth, rust, and age consume. However, God remains changeless and trustworthy. He will not fail us. So for this week, let’s take stock of where our heart is. Here are some ways that help us determine where our heart is.

Thought Questions:

1.      Do you consider yourself a success, why or why not?

2.     Do you feel comfortable with your standard of living, why or why not?

3.     Are you able to contribute to good charitable causes?

4.     How important to you is getting that next promotion?

5.     If you have a family, do you spend enough time with them? Do you think that they would answer the same way?

6.     Do you have time to spend in regular prayer and Bible study?