Why Simplify?

Live simply that others might simply live. ~Elizabeth Seaton

This quote has been on my mind quite frequently…mulling over the reason for simplicity. “Simple living” is not a new fad, and yet it has been coming to the forefront as of late, possibly due to the challenges in our current economy for many a family.

I have heard many reasons given for pursuing simplicity including: savings and retirement, purchasing a home debt free, tight budgets, desiring to be less dependent upon the consumerist mentality of our culture, health, peaceful home and life, less stress, etc.

These are all wise reasons for pursuing simply living, many of which have been my desires as well…but should there be something more? Some more eternal, over-arching God-glorifying purpose for pursuing simplicity?

Simple Living throughout History

As I mentioned previously, ‘simple living’ is nothing new. Here are a few historical examples, which were shared in Tim Keller’s Ministries of Mercy:

Take the story of John Wesley, a man who died with nothing left but a coat and two silver teaspoons, and this was not due to any lack of resources. He earned as much as 1,400 pounds annually toward the end of his life through the sale of sermons and books. He never spent more than 30 pounds each year, and said himself, “If I leave behind 10 pounds, you and all mankind bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber.”

George Muller of Bristol left $850 at his death, and it was estimated that he gave away $180,000 dollars to the Lord’s work.

John Newton gave the challenge during his lifetime to live by three principles:

1. Choose a standard of living of the bare necessities (food & shelter)
2. Use entertainment funds for a family ministry to the poor
3. Make generosity to the poor a higher priority than your savings and retirement.

The Bible calls us to “keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5), and that “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that…”(1 Tim. 6:6-9).

The over-arching reason for simple living is in order to give it away to the needy!

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Tim Keller in his book, Ministries of Mercy, presents this challenge that has spoken right to my heart: “We must give so that we feel the burden of the needy ourselves!” The truth rests in this passage: “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

As Jonathan Edwards says: “In many cases, we may, by the rules of the gospel, be obliged to give to others, when we cannot do it without suffering ourselves. if our neighbor’s difficulties and necessities be much greater than our own, and we see that he is not like to be otherwise relieved, we should be willing to suffer with him, and to take part of his burden on ourselves; else how is that rule of bearing one another’s burdens fulfilled? If we be never obliged to relieve other’s burdens, but when we can do it without burdening ourselves, then do we bear our neighbor’s burden, when we bear no burden at all?”

As my dad has said frequently: Give until it hurts! If it doesn’t hurt, we are not bearing any burden of anothers, and thus not giving enough!

How do we Simplify?

I want to live simply, pursuing contentment with a simple home, simple lifestyle, in order that we may seek to invest more time and resources into the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. Our goal is to simplify our schedule so we can have more time to invest in others (ministry as a family in our home)…to simplify our possessions and spending in order to give more generously.

How do we apply this? My question and pray has been, how can I live more simply in order that others might simply live? How do we pursue simplicity in meal planning, household maintenance, schedule, purchases, etc?

I would like to commence a series of post on steps toward simplicity. On upcoming Wednesdays, we will posts tips for simplifying your home and lifestyle, sharing with you lessons we have learned through the journey. I have so much more to learn, but as long as we remain focused on the God-glorying goal of living generously for others, He will supply the grace sufficient for the task. This is a purpose worth living for!

I hope to encourage you all in ways of simplifying in order to be most effective with your time and resources for the glory of God, seeking first the kingdom, giving more generously, remaining content with little, and keeping our hearts and minds where the true treasure should be stored in heaven.