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The Discipline of Simplicity

Often, we are kept from living lives marked by the joy and peace of our heavenly Father because of our continual pursuit for more. Humanity’s first sin was pursuing more than God intended, and the enemy continues to entice us with that temptation today. A core value of the world is more: more money, more fame, more friends, more success, more happiness, more possessions, and more of anything because we feel dissatisfied with our lives. We are constantly grabbing for what will never fully satisfy in the present or lead us to a lifestyle of continual satisfaction.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:12,

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”

Simplicity is a God-given discipline that prunes the dead branches of waste that deplete us of the energy, time, and provision with which God has blessed us. When we stop pursuing more, we step in line with the Spirit and place our trust and faith in God rather than our own understanding.

A lack of faith in God’s goodness is at the core of a continual pursuit for more. If we truly believed God provides all we need, we would never step outside his provision and strive for more. Adam and Eve questioned God’s goodness and thereby brought the destructive nature of sin into humanity. They decided for themselves what was enough rather than trusting God to know what was best for them.

Our own forbidden fruit takes on all sorts of forms. We work our fingers to the bone for a taste of greater success while forgetting who we are to work for in the first place. We take God-given financial provision and waste it on worldly pleasures rather than investing it into that which will actually satisfy us. We take what we receive from God and use it to finance self-indulgence rather than sharing it with those whom God wanted to use us to bless from the beginning. We take the valuable resource of time and waste it on pursuits that were never God’s intention to begin with.

We desperately need transformation and training in the discipline of simplicity. To experience joy and peace that transcends circumstances and position ourselves through faithfulness to receive more of what God longs to give, we must offer our time, energy, and money to God and follow the guidance of his Spirit and word.

Matthew 6:21 says,

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Take time in guided prayer placing all your treasure in the only place that can offer you eternal investment: with your heavenly Father.

Prayer

1. Meditate on the importance of simplicity and the destructive pursuit of more.

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 16:13

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

2. Reflect on areas of your life that are not marked by simplicity. Ask the Spirit to convict you of anything you need to get rid of. It’s incredibly important to note the difference between guilt and conviction. Conviction from the Spirit is always done in love and will always bring you inner peace and joy as you follow through in obedience.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

3. Commit to ending the pursuit of more by trusting in the provision and goodness of your heavenly Father. Place your trust in him alone and ask him to guide you into a lifestyle of simplicity.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”2 Corinthians 1:12