The Spiritual Discipline of Simplicity

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Preface

Today’s blog post centers upon the gift of the spiritual discipline of simplicity and its life-giving properties for the believer who has an unhealthy perspective of money and its dangers to the soul.

The scripture references that were used for this lesson are Matthew 6:19-24 [dealing with the appropriate Godly perspective of money], and Matthew 6:25-34 [communicating about the lack of faith due to a divided alliance between the love of mammon and God].

Jesus the Kingdom Economist

The Master speaks to the question of economics more than any other single social issue. He declared war on the materialism of His day. The Aramaic term for wealth is “mammon” and Jesus condemns it as a rival God:

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

Historically, Jewish philosophy/attitude toward money was expressed in their statement, “Whom the Lord loveth, He maketh rich.” In Deuteronomy 28 God promised that He would bless the people materially if they walked in obedience to the word of God, and He also promised to discipline them by reducing them to want and poverty if they disobeyed.

The Jews thought riches were a sure sign of God’s pleasure and blessing. During the Master’s day, their highest goal in life was to accumulate material wealth. But Jesus taught that material goals may be lost to thieves, moths, or rust. Material gains are temporary, not permanent.

Jesus, in His teaching to would-be disciples, proclaimed those who come after Me may store up in heaven treasure that is eternal and permanent. In accumulating treasure there is the danger that one will love what is accumulated. “That what is loved will enslave the soul of the person.”

The unseen reality in the Master’s teaching about the spiritual attitude toward money is that the preoccupation of the accumulation of wealth was a substitute for faith. The one who has all their material means met, that person may not see the need to trust God for needs today and tomorrow.

Absolute Spiritual Truth About God’s Economy

• “Do not worry about your life.” God has designed a human life more than that which is physical (Matt. 6:25)

• The heavenly Father cares for all of His creatures. (v.26)

• No one by just wise planning for the future can extend life even a single hour. (v.27)

• If God can clothe the lily with a beauty that exceeds the splendor of Solomon’s clothes, He can clothe the individual.

The antidote to those who desire to provide security for one’s soul: Christ stated, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 [This segment, Jesus the economist, was gleaned from J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Words of Jesus Christ]

The Master’s Greatest Gift

Perhaps one of the Lord’s greatest gifts that He grants any true faithful follower today is the spiritual blessings of the discipline of simplicity. The spiritual discipline of simplicity is to intentionally shed the things of this earth that are keeping you from fully experiencing the life God desires for you.

A very sobering reality is that if we devoted every moment of our lives exclusively to His service, we could not give Him anything that was not His own from the beginning. Any wealth, power, or strength we have, originated with God…, even our ability to give generously comes from God.

Ultimately God is the author of our being, the God of our lives and mercies within our living; these things are great and those things good that He does throughout our lives.

God is the One that gives the power to get wealth, for though men/women may have seeming opportunities for getting wealth, businesses, industry, it is the blessings of God that makes us rich.

Psalms 127:2 In vain do you get up early and put off going to bed, working hard to earn a living; for He provides for His believed, even when they sleep.

Freedom from Anxiety

Below are the major biblical absolutes for the people of God as it relates to the spiritual discipline of Simplicity.

3 Inner Attitudes

• To receive what we have as a gift from God is the first inner attitude of simplicity. All that we receive and have belonged to God, He is the source, He cares for those gifts and He directs them accordingly to His will.
• To know that it is all God’s business, and not ours, to care for is the second inner attitude of simplicity. We lack the ability to protect what we possess. We must put all our trust in Him and not ourselves.
• To have our goods/blessings available to others is the third attitude of simplicity. We are to learn not to cling to our possessions rather than sharing them due to us having anxiety about loss and the future. [These three attitudes, and communication about the spiritual discipline were gleaned from Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Richard J. Foster]

God’s Ultimate Gift

God’s economy is the opposite of the world’s.

This world gives to those who earn, and earnings often equal the accomplishment. Our Creator gives abundantly more and with a different reward/value system.

This fallen world wants to possess everything by claiming and receiving, yet the major injustice to this mentality and practice is that the original owner of all things is God and not man.

God’s ultimate gift to sinful humanity is completely free, given by His grace. It is salvation in this life and the eternal life to come. This is manifested by Jesus giving everything to redeem lost humanity back to the Father. Mark 10:45 informs us that He paid our debt to release us as prisoners of sin. But any willing soul who fully trusts in Jesus on the Cross, God’s wrath for our sinful nature is paid for.

We in turn will obtain spiritual gifts and virtue that no accumulation of wealth can buy.

Three Major Worldly Economic Realities

The mindset of the world is “everything is mine” yet within God’s economy, “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him, there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. James 1:17-18

Each of us has boldly stated, “I earned this” yet Paul reminds the faithful ones, “whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord.” Colossians 3:23 We also are reminded in essence, “what makes you so special? What do you have that you didn’t receive as a gift And if was a gift, why do you boast as if it weren’t? 1 Corinthians 4:7

Out of greed and lack of faith, we believe that we are entitled to get more than we give to others. Acts 20:35 reminds us in everything I have given you an example of how, by working hard like this, you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Himself, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.“

Dangers of Possessing the Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a foot of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The Love of Money

• It tempts, making us do evil things in an effort to get more.
• It traps our soul, gripping us so much so that we becom obsessional.
• It stimulates the darkest inner lust and sinful desires waiting to be fulfilled.
• It harms the individual and those in one’s social context.
• It leads to ultimate destruction of soul life.
• It leads to the wide road of dustruction, diversion from the “Way” which is Christ.
• It darkens our light to that of deep depression, pain, and anxiety.
• It brings the individual to ruin.

Closing Comments

God is very interested in His children to learn and to practice proper priorities in their lives. We will get into deep trouble when we love anything more than God, chiefly, the love of money. The Master requires that all of His faithful followers seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

To remove the love of money in your life you are encouraged to first, always prioritize relationships with other people over financial gains. The second way is to study, learn, and practice the spiritual discipline of simplicity. The spiritual discipline of simplicity is to intentionally shed the things of this earth that are keeping you from fully experiencing the fullness of life God desires for you. Amen

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