Keith Drury   Draft 1  9/28/04  -- 3942 words

Keith Drury   Draft 2  9/28/04  -- 3833 words

Keith Drury   Draft 3  9/28/04  -- 3686 words

 

Simplicity

 

Simplicity

Simplicity is intentionally paring our lives down toward the essentials in order to free ourselves from the “tyranny of things.”  Few other disciplines go against our culture so much but when taken up provide greater freedom.  The simple life is easier and less complicated to live which enables us to focus on more important things.  We abandon our preoccupation with the latest gadgets, styles and must-have symbols of success in order to focus on more important and lasting things.  In a culture that believes piling up treasure on earth brings happiness the discipline of simplicity is our statement that we believe true happiness is more likely found in the abundance of our possessions but in the fewness of our wants.  When we practice this discipline we will find the freedom and joy of the uncomplicated life and a “single eye” will emerge focusing on God and eternal things.

 

Our simplicity heritage

The teaching and lifestyle of Jesus at this point was radical—perhaps too radical to even imagine emulating.  What were His possessions?  Where was His home?  What forms of transportation did he use? Gandhi is often honored for his simple life enabling him to carry everything he owned in a simple linen bag.  But Jesus did not even have a bag.  His estate included a simple yet quality seamless garment—and a worldwide religion. His disciples took on the discipline of simplicity too and the early church spread as Christ’s followers gave up their possessions and spread the gospel.  Churches sprung up who became known for sharing possessions and caring for widows and orphans and people were attracted to these communities The Christians in Jerusalem who “did not treat their possessions as their own” typified the early church for several hundred years. The “desert fathers” denied themselves all the comforts of life in order to focus on God.  Later, for more than a thousand years monasteries became places where individuals abandoned the worries of personal possessions and gave themselves to worship, study and service.  The lineage of simplicity has a long history in the church that is traced right back to Jesus Christ.  When we take up this discipline we join a long line of fellow Christians through history.

 

Dimness of soul

In our modern world, however, the discipline of abstinence makes us wonder, “Shouldn’t the Christian life be a celebration and happiness not a stern life of denial and long faces?  Of course we the Christian life is one of joy, but the error is in believing that material possessions bring this joy.  We are told by our culture that we can achieve happiness by collecting the possessions of the “good life.” But it turns to dust and rust. We eventually discover that we are no happier than we were when we had nothing. So among our pile of possessions we sit with dimness of soul.  Happiness and freedom is not found in piling up possessions but in a simple life of trust.  The more we have the greater we will rely on what we have.  And the less we will rely on God   The idol of materialism sets itself up in the temple of our heart and says  “What good is the spiritual world—you can’t eat it, wear it, or live in it?”  To tear down this idol defying God we adopt habits of simplicity affirming eternal and spiritual values.  Like adding a tiny drop of poison to our coffee each day, materialism slowly poisons our souls.  The dimness of soul eventually becomes “normal.”  We no longer even know what it is like to sense the deeper and more important things of life. But when intentionally reject the falsehoods of the material life and practice simplicity—even a little of it—we are freed from the tyranny of the temporal and material and can get reacquainted with the spiritual and eternal. 

 

Mutiny of possessions

Our culture teaches us that the material matters most.  Advertising is carefully designed to give us wants disguised as needs.  So we collect possessions that are supposed to satisfy yet we experience a strange disappointment once we’ve got them. They do not measure up to what they promised.  We are told we need more or better or the improved thing to really make us happy. So we get up on a speeding treadmill of materialism constantly gathering and collecting possessions seeking the satisfaction the next purchase will bring.  It is like drinking seawater—the more we have the thirstier we get.  Finally we realize a strange thing—our possessions have come to posses us.  The garage door opener breaks and commands us to arrange for its repair.  The lawn mower does not start this spring and, after scores of attempts and much sweating, we are ordered get it fixed.  The automobile that promised to make us feel so good insists we take it regularly for oil changes.  There has been a mutiny.  We become possessions of our possessions, slaves of our slaves.   The things we gathered to serve is have overthrown our rule and made us servants—taken over our lives and made us prisoners. Habits of simplicity help us regain control from these rebel servants.

 

When we find ourselves in this bondage (usually too late in life) it is hard to escape.  We have laid down piling up patterns for decades.  Such habits are hard to beak.  When struggling with this issue E. B. White observed that his house was like a tank that only allowed possessions to enter—there seemed to be a check valve that prevented the outflow of possessions. So we pile up until we die or move to a nursing home and our children toss out our junk wagging their heads saying, “Now why did they save that?”  Adopting habits of simplicity keeps the books current—it gets rid of our stuff as new stuff comes in, or better yet discards possessions without replacing them.  .  When we adopt habits of simplicity we break loose from this bondage and experience the joys of traveling light.  Sometimes we simply have to walk away form our bigger barns to find release.

 

Poverty, simplicity and frugality

Of course all of us can’t take a vow of poverty.  We shouldn’t.  The evil is not in things themselves, but in our excessive absorption with them.  Taking up habits of simplicity breaks the bondage of the material—even adopting just a few habits can do so. The classic approach to this discipline offers three related disciplines. First there is frugality, the careful use of money for necessities in order to get the greatest value.  The frugal person is a careful spender who cautiously spends only for important things, and then only after carefully comparing to get the “biggest bang for the buck.”  All of us can take on the trait of frugality—though one can even be a materialist and do it since even misers are frugal.  On the far extreme is poverty.  Monks usually took three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience—thus addressing three great temptations of life—money, sex and power.  Their discipline of poverty was to abstain from personal ownership of anything at all—even a writing tablet was owned collectively.  Few of us can be so radical unless we live in some sort of commune or Christian community.  And even if we did we may not be free of materialism.  Many religious orders eventually faced a dimness of soul too because they merely replaced personal materialism with collective materialism—some monasteries became fabulously wealthy over time.  Who cares if I own nothing if my community owns all kinds of lavish possessions and lets me use them?  While we ought to practice frugality, and some may take a voew of poverty all of could practice simplicity—the intentional paring life down toward the essentials in order to free ourselves from the tyranny of things.  In the process we clear the clutter of our lives away and can find God and trust him better.

 

Relative simplicity

Well, we can’t all become monks. We have family to consider, and our retirement and other obligations.  So, where can we find the sensible middle ground of simplicity?  How much is too much?  How far should we go in unpiling our treasure on earth?  Certainly this discipline of all the disciplines must be tailored personally.  Moderate simplicity to a person in Rangoon might look like poverty to a Christian in Chicago.  Or living a simple life in North Carolina might appear to be wanton excess to a Christian in Bangladesh. But even among our friends attending our local church there will be varying tolerations for simplicity.  “Oh, I could never do without that” labels the thing of which we speak as a necessity.  But my necessity may be my neighbor’s luxury.  So we will have to apply this discipline personally and beware of judging how others ought to live.  Most of us feel the grip of materialism and sense our own addiction to nice things.  Taking even small steps to reverse materialism’s clutch can bring greater freedom.  Certainly nobody can set standards for others, but that does not mean we are free to set no standards at all for ourselves.  Simplicity may be relative, but it is not optional—at least for a religion whose founder taught such radical notions about possessions.  In modern life we may not be able to follow all of Christ’s teaching on materialism, but shouldn’t we try to follow some?

 

Simplicity as moderation (and moderation in simplicity)

When we adopt disciplines of simplicity w will not toss out all our clothes keeping only one change of clothes.  That may have worked in Jesus time but few of us seriously think that is how He might dress in our world.  For most of us simplicity of dress has to do with moderation more than essentials.  Of course only one change of clothing would be “the essentials” for dress.  But few of us could survive in modern life on only the bare essentials—our world doesn’t work that way. This is why we defined the discipline as aiming toward the essentials.  For most of us this discipline starts a journey against materialism that we never complete.  Well, we don’t complete it until death, for none of us will take anything material from this world.  Death is the final downsizing for the Christian.  All the downsizing we do before then is preparation.  So we need some things—probably more than Jesus had. But how many changes of clothing does we need?  How many internal combustion engines do we own?  Two?  Four?  Five?  Do we need so many?   The discipline of simplicity leads us to determine how much we need and to move toward only what we need and nothing more. Taking on the discipline of simplicity in our modern world is more about moderation than total abstinence.  That is in simplicity we abstain from material excessiveness—from collecting things as if they provided happiness and meaning.  Only God can give us the happiness and meaning we crave

 

Spreading simplicity

Once we take up the discipline of simplicity it often bleeds over into other areas of life.  For instance we may start seeing the value simpler foods which is often the route to a more healthy diet. Simplicity can spread to our entertainment and hobbies too.  We might discover joy in the simplest things rather than those expensive and esoteric diversions we used to do because they promised such an “awesome experience.”   We may even take up the habit of simplicity of thinking, moving beyond self-promoting impressive doubletalk to adopting a simple approach to thinking and talking like Jesus used.   A simple life will soon lead us to examine our schedule differently—and we will realize we cram too many things into too little time. Neither the abundance of appointments nor the profusion of possessions will make us happy.  Soon simplicity will spread to our schedule and we will find greater peace and purpose in life.  All of the disciplines spread into other areas, but few spread so widely as simple simplicity.

 

Following our heart

We must remember though that possessions themselves are not wrong and we do not take up the discipline of simplicity as if holiness springs from having less.  The problem: it is hard to serve two masters—God and possessions.  Jesus said it wasn’t even possible at all.  He taught us our hearts will follow our treasure.  It is hard for our heart to care about the eternal and spiritual when it is preoccupied with temporal and material.  This is why we start disciplines of simplicity—to break free from mammon and refocus our eye on God.  And in ridding ourselves of the things we thought would make us happiness we find truer and deeper happiness in God.

 

How to start practicing this discipline.

1.      Say no. Pick one purchase every day and say no, even something as small as a soft drink.  Not because buying things is wrong, but to break the bondage of the notion that a purchase will make you happier.

 

2.      Inventory your house. Simply walk through your house with boxes or a wheelbarrow and take out things you have not used in a year, or two years, or whatever is your time limit.  If you have not worn a sweater in a year should you really keep it?  If that tool has not been used for several years, why hoard it?   Gather a pile of unused possessions somewhere—but don’t put it in your attic, get rid of it some way.

 

3.      Plan a garage sale.   Perhaps a garage sale is a way to toss out your extra baggage—having one, not visiting one to collect more stuff!  Some Christians have one every year and give the income to missions.

 

4.      Sort boxes from your last move.  Do you still have unpacked boxes from your last move—or even previous moves?  If so, schedule an hour this week (and every week until you are finished) to sort, toss or give away those things your children would have to sort anyway when you go to a nursing home.  If now is not a good time to start this when will be a better time—do you really think you’ll do it better when retired or just before you enter a nursing home?

 

5.      Plan a backpacking trek. Most of us are unable to practice “severe simplicity” like John the Baptist, Jesus and the early Church fathers but we can experience a week or longer very similarly when we take a backpacking trek.  If you are physically able consider trying a week or more carrying only the necessities on your back—and watch how what you thought were “necessities” turn into “luxuries” once you are carrying the load on your back.  Let this bne a lesson for life.  Few experiences today offer as much similarity with the first century approach to simplicity as does backpacking.

 

6.      Begin downsizing. If you agree that an overabundance of possessions is actually a burden then you might take this discipline even more seriously—by starting to downsize your lifestyle in a serious way.  Give away the extra furniture cluttering your house to a young couple. Or give it to the Salvation Army.  Find a young person who has no tools and give them your extra set of socket wrenches, or maybe even your only set if you’ve not been using it.  Get rid of all that stuff you have in your self-storage.  Why pay rent to store things you will eventually toss out anyway? Check the attic, garage and basement asking, “Why save this?” Give yourself permission to buy things again if you find out later that “just when I tossed it out I needed it.”  Maybe even consider moving to a smaller house that makes you downsize automatically.  Again, do not take up this discipline because having little will make you holy—but because having less will free you to be happier. And closer to God

 

 

 

 

Scripture and quotes for sidebars

 

 

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  –Edwin Way Teale

1. What examples can you give where “eliminating needless wants” reduces work or worry?

2. Reverse it now—tell about how taking on a new possessions increased your work or worry.

 

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter ... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring-these are some of the rewards of the simple life –John Burroughs

1. What are some complex or elaborate hobbies or activities that promised happiness that turned out to be a disappointment to you?
2. What simple things bring you the most joy? Describe them.

 

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

--Hans Hofmann

1. In what ways does the “clutter of possessions” block us from tuning into important things?
2. What are “the necessary” things that we should be tuned into that we somehow miss when we are drowing in a materialistic life?

 

 

Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your lif.e--Richard Foster

1. Could there be an inverse relationship between the two ways we impress people—that is the more we impress them by how we dress or we have the less they see who we really are?  Can you think of a story illustrating where this happened?
2. What are the best possible “impressions” a person can get from our clothes?  From our life?

 

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough. –Charles Dudley Warner 

1. List the “just baggage enough” for people in your local church at the various ages—newly married, child-rearing, middle age, empty nest and retired.
2. Why is it humans collect more possessions—how do you explain this universal tendency?

 

 

Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. –Thomas a Kempis

The Christian Discipline of Simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle.

--Richard Foster

We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without. –Henry David Thoreau

To be simple is to fix one's eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down. –Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. –Henry David Thoreau

 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

1. Is this a command of the Bible like “do not steal” or is it more relative—that is, should we interpret it this way, “As we store up treasure on earth make sure your also storing up treasure in Heaven.”  Is this a fair interpretation?  If you say yes the how far can we interpret other “do not” statements of Jesus in a similar way?  If you say not then how would you say the “do not store up” command applies to today?
2. If you had to pick one, which comes first? Does our heart follow our treasure or does our treasure follow our heart? That is, if I have my their heart set on my possessions how do I go about changing—change my heart first then my treasure will follow my heart?  Or simply start putting my treasure in heaven and my heart will follow it? (avoid the easy answer of “it’s both” as long as you can in answering this)

 

 

No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6: 24, 33)  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. (Matthew  19:21)

 

1. Is Jesus saying here we can’t care about our money at all, or is He saying that we should make sure that 51% or more of our “service” is to God and not our money?  What percentage meets this command of Christ in your mind?  What would a person have to do to disobey this teaching of Christ?
2. Can we serve two masters by letting one be preferred over the other without hating the other master (either God or money)?

 

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4)

1. While not everyone can take up the ascetic life like John, what sort of people might actually live a life of radical simplicity?  Do you know anything like this?
2. How could one take on themselves this sort of radical simplicity for a time—for instance for a week or month? What would you do?

 

 

Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.  Plato 

There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth –Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helps for teaching and leading your class or small group through this book are located at the back of this book.

 

By Keith Drury  [email protected]