DEEPER WALK
SIMPLICITY
Introduction - The disciplines we have studied to this point are called the “inward” disciplines, as they relate to the heart of the individual disciple of Jesus. We are now entering into another set of disciplines we may call the “outward” disciplines … the attitudes of heart that rearrange the outward way we live day by day. The first of these outward disciplines is SIMPLICITY. Calhoun says, “There has never been a more complicated, cluttered, bureaucratic society than the one we live in today.” - The desire of simplicity is to uncomplicated and untangle my life so I can focus on what really matters. Simplicity aims at loosening inordinate attachment to owning and having. Simplicity brings freedom and with it generosity. (Calhoun) - The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle. Calhoun says that these things may include: *assessing the things and activities that keep life convoluted, complicated and confusing *setting priorities that flow from loving God above all else *downsizing possessions *cutting back on shopping and discretionary spending *eating simple foods *enjoying simple pleasures that require no expense *removing distractions and preoccupation with things - The Fruit of Simplicity (Calhoun) *living an uncluttered life *becoming clearer, more distilled as a person *creating more space in your life for loving and serving God *using simple, honest speech without dissembling and double meanings. *experiencing freedom from envy and entitlement *being able to let go *staking your identity in God’s love, not accumulations and possessions - We must live in the modern world, and we are affected by its fractured and fragmented state. We are trapped in a maze of competing attachments…. Our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things. We must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic … it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy…. Until we see how unbalanced our culture has become at this point, we will not be able to deal with the mammon spirit within ourselves nor will we desire Christian simplicity. (Foster, p. 80-81) 1. THE BIBLE AND SIMPLICITY. The Bible challenges nearly every economic value of contemporary society. A. We are not to trust wealth. - “…Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Psalm 62:10 36
