Simplicity.

Chris' friend shared the following challenge with him this afternoon over a cup of coffee. When Chris came home he shared it with me and I was very encouraged by it and would like to share it with you as well.

This week the topic of our discipleship group was the spiritual discipline of simplicity, "The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style" (Foster 79). The ultimate goal of the spiritual discipline of simplicity is to make God the very center or our lives. The Bibles says, "Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours" (Matt 6:25-33) However, seeking Gods Kingdom first often does no happen because there are so many other things, both good and bad, that we seek before God. Simplicity seeks to eliminate those things that are pulling us away from the divine center which is Jesus and his Kingdom. "The inner reality of simplicity is not a reality until there is outward expression." (Foster 89) So having said that, listed below are some things that we can do to help simplify out lives. So that Jesus becomes our on significant master and nothing else.

-"Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status."
-"Reject anything that is producing an addition in you."
-"Develop a habit of giving things away."
-"Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry."
-"Learn to enjoy things without owning them."
-"Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation."
-"Look with a healthy skepticism at all buy now, pay latter schemes."
-"Obey Jesus' instructions about plain honest speech."
-"Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others."
-"Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God."

Be Encouraged.