Good Morning!
One of the dilemmas you and I face is how to walk with God and keep the clutter and stuff around us from burying us alive. As a society, our fixation on acquiring has reached psychotic levels.
John Wesley wrote, “…The essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity…”
Soren Kierkegaard captured the spirit of Christian simplicity: “Purity of heart is to will one thing:” God.
“Simplicity is freedom, bringing joy and balance.
“Duplicity is bondage leading to anxiety and fear.”+
It’s difficult to keep life simple if I have multiple passions.
Count Zinzendorf stated, “I have but one passion, it is He alone.”
The test as to whether I am seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is the lack of anxiety. (Matt. 6:25)
Following are several of Richard Foster’s+ principles that may help us in evaluating whether we have captured the inner essence of simplicity:
First, buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
Second, reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
Third, develop a habit of giving things away.
Fourth, refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry.
Fifth, learn to enjoy things without owning them.
Sixth, look with a healthy skepticism at all ‘buy now, pay later” schemes.
Seventh, shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of god.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!