Living Simply Part 2 (of 3)

This three part series is lifted from thoughts in Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline.  (I would highly recommend it).  

“Asceticism renounces possessions. Simplicity sets possessions in proper perspective. Asceticism finds no place for a ‘land flowing with milk and honey.’ Simplicity rejoices in this gracious provision from the hand of God. Asceticism finds contentment only when it is abased. Simplicity knows contentment in both abasement and abounding (Phil. 4:12). Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.” – Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline)

The thought of living simply tends to bring to mind images of sack-clothed, stocial hermits.  This is not the case.  Instead, the Bible calls our living simply and contently to be balanced.  Good things are created by a good God for our enjoyment.  The problem arises when we begin to put those good things in God’s place.  Often times, good things make the best idols.  They decieve us with their goodness, and blind us to their draining effect on our spiritual life.

I challenge you to think of living simply not as some strange form of self-punishment that somehow brings glory to our Maker.  Instead, seek to, as Foster puts it, “set possessions in proper perspective.”  As we persist in keeping God in His proper abode in our hearts, we will find ourselves turning from accumulation and striving for simplification (And this, because of the reward and enjoyment we find in it.)