There are those who are giving greater consideration towards a simpler life. Tired of the hectic pace, perhaps disenchanted that life is not about the accumulation of things, people are re-examining their lives for greater meaning.
Back in the late 1970’s, there were a few voices urging people to pursue simplicity. One of those voices was Richard Foster, who wrote a book entitled, The Celebration of Discipline. In his book, he outlined ten controlling principles for the outward expressiong of simplicity which can certainly still be applied thirty years later.
1. BUY THINGS FOR THEIR USEFULNESS RATHER THAN THEIR STATUS
Cars should be bought for their utility, not their prestige. A home should be chosen for its livability rather than how much it will impress others. Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life.
2. REJECT ANYTHING THAT IS PRODUCING AN ADDICTION IN YOU
Learn to distinguish between a real psychological need, such as cheerful surroundings, and an addiction–something you cannot do without, such as television, coffee, newspapers, or chocolate. If money has a grip on your heart, give some away and feel the inner release. Simplicity is freedom, not slavery. Refuse to be a slave to anything but God.
3. DEVELOP A HABIT OF GIVING THINGS AWAY
De-accumulate. Masses of things that are not needed complicate life. Most of us could get rid of half our possessions without any serious sacrifice.
4. REFUSE TO BE ENTICED BY MODERN GADGETRY
Timesaving devices almost never save time. Most gadgets are built to break down and wear out and so complicate our lives rather than enhance them. Propagandists try to convince us that because the newest model of this or that has a new feature we must sell the old and buy the new one. Such media dogma needs to be carefully scrutinized. Often “new” features are only a way of inducing us to buy what we do not need.
5. LEARN TO ENJOY THINGS WITHOUT OWNING THEM
Many things in life can be enjoyed without possessing them. Share things. Enjoy the beach without feeling you have to own a piece of it. Enjoy public parks and libraries.
6. DEVELOP A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE CREATION
Walk whenever you can. Listen to the birds. Marvel in the rich colors everywhere. Simplicity means to discover once again that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”
7. LOOK WITH A HEALTHY SKEPTICIISM AT ALL “BUY NOW, PAY LATER” SCHEMES
They are a trap and serve to deepen your bondage. In biblical times, charging interest was viewed as unbrotherly exploitation of another’s misfortune, hence a denial of Christian community. Jesus admonished His disciples to “lend . . . without expecting to get anything back.” These words of Scripture should not be construed into some kind of universal law obligatory upon all cultures at all times. But neither should they be thought of as totally irrelevant to modern society. Behind such biblical injunctions stand centuries of accumulated wisdom. Certainly prudence as well as simplicity would demand that we use extreme caution before incurring debt.
8. OBEY JESUS’ INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT PLAIN, HONEST SPEECH
Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Make honesty and integrity the distinguishing characteristics of your speech. A lack of simplicity in one area, such as speech, can undermine simplicity in another area.
9. REJECT ANYTHING THAT WILL BREED THE OPPRESSION OF OTHERS
This is one of the most difficult and sensitive issues for today’s Christians to face. Do we sip our coffee and eat our bananas at the expense of exploiting Latin American peasants? In a world of limited resources, does our lust for wealth mean the poverty of others?
10. SHUN WHATEVER WOULD DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR MAIN GOAL
God gives us the courage, wisdom, and strength always to hold as the number one priority of our lives to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. To do so is to live in simplicity.
