What comes to mind when you hear the word, “simplicity?”
Biblical simplicity isn’t about having a capsule wardrobe, stripping your kitchen down to the bare minimum, or going without makeup. Biblical simplicity is a spiritual discipline that we can practice daily. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’ll be able to walk away with a better understanding of this Spiritual Discipline, and how practicing simplicity can be beneficial to both our physical reality and our spiritual life.
Defining Simplicity
Minimalists seem to be trying to define simplicity in the total number of items you should own. To be honest, minimalism may be beneficial in helping some individuals learn to live simply, but it’s not for everyone. True simplicity is less about the details and more about the posture of your heart.
Simplicity begins with the recognition that God is the giver of every good thing. Since God is the giver of everything that we have – our life’s breath, our finances, resources, etc. – all that we have or buy ultimately belongs to Him. Simplicity is living in a way that honors God as the giver of all. It involves finding the middle ground between having nothing and overspending on pointless luxuries. Simple living is learning to live within our means and using what God has given us to honor Him.
“The Lord preserves the simple…”
Psalm 116:6, ESV
How does simple living benefit us?
It Encourages Thanksgiving
Several years ago I went through a phase where I was convinced that I could turn my family into a happy group of minimalists – it didn’t go well. During this phase, I watched a video of Joshua Becker (an important figure in the minimalist movement). In this video, he talked about how he hand washes all his dishes because it reminds him to be grateful for what he owns. Many minimalists have this in common, they are genuinely grateful for what they have. While I’m not advocating for minimalism, the concepts of minimalism give us a good understanding of living simply – and both simple living & minimalism have the same (if very similar) benefits.
It’s hard to be thankful for the things you have when they contribute to your stress. When everything you own needs to be washed, cleaned, taken care of, etc. We could easily fill our days with the constant task of picking up and putting away everything that we own. And for what? to keep doing it again and again, day after day.
The Solution
If we reduce what we own and be careful with what we buy we will end up spending less time taking care of the things we own and more time enjoying them! This may require getting a handle on the addiction we like to refer to as “retail therapy.” I don’t need to give you a specific number of items to own or throw out, but if you’re in a place where you can’t enjoy anything God’s given you because you’re so stressed about taking care of it all, maybe it’s time to simplify and let go of a few things.
When we are able to enjoy the things we own that God has blessed us with, it allows us to realize what we have and Thank God for it!
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5, ESV
It Increases Rest
When we live simply we find we have more time for rest.
Making a simple dinner allows you more time to enjoy the food you made. At the very least, potentially more time spent with your family and less cleaning up from a fancy meal. Simple meals will also make less trips to multiple stores trynig to find the one rare ingredient you’ll need. I’m done spending money on ingredients that will only be used once. I still have spices from 5 years ago when I needed it for one recipe my family didnt even like!
Reducing the amount of stuff you own means you’ll spend less time taking care of those things. This in turn gives you more time to live in rest as you enjoy God’s abundant blessings.
When we live within our means, not spending extravigantly, we wont have to work extra hours, or get a second job to pay off debt, which will give you more time for family and what matters most.
The more we can simplify our lives the more rest we will find.
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:6, NIV
It Produces Margin
We could all do with a little more margin in our lives. We already covered how living simply can increase the time we have to enjoy life and the things we have. But what about our financial resources?
When we live within our means we end up with more resources. When we live within our means, we can more easily gather savings. Our savings can be used for a variety of things: a family mission trip, a vacation to a destination you’ve always wanted to see, a move across the country to fullfil God’s call on your life. Whatever it is, when you have margin in your life you have the ability to be flexible and move freely as God directs your step.
If God called you to move, change directions, give to a missionary, or step out in faith, would you be able to in your current financial and physical situation? If the answer is no, then you may want to consider how you can simplify to live within your means.
We are not minimalists and we are certainly not rich. My husband and I have done what we can to live within our means. We do not have any debt that needs to be paid down. Our family is continually making space in our schedules and our possessions so we are not bogged down by what we do or what we have. This doesnt mean we’re perfect, but this is a continual goal within our marriage & family. We long to follow God, simplicity helps us do that easier. To follow along with our family where God takes us, check out our Instagram Page.
Simplicity helps us fix our eyes on Jesus
Wether it’s encouraging thanksgiving, increasing your rest, or producing margin in your life, simplicity helps us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “throw of everything that hinders.” This “everything” isnt just sin and it’s not always bad. Simplicity is learning to let go of the things that keep you from following God. Nothing in this life can come with us to the next. When we realize that we can live unencumbered by our physical possessions to find what is the most valuable.
Our most valued possession is the faith we have in Christ. Becuase no matter what this world can give or take away our future glory is incomparable to anything today. We are striving for a heavenly home, not the perfect earthly one.
So, how can you practice simplicity today?
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