The Path to Spiritual Growth Meditation Prayer Fasting Study Simplicity

The purpose of Spiritual Disciplines is the total transformation of the person by replacing old destructive habits of thought with new life-giving habits.

 Quotes:  “Money is a great servant but a bad master.” Francis Bacon  “Every increased possession loads us with new weariness.” John Ruskin  “It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” Bertrand Russell

1 Tim. 6: But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

 1 Tim. 6:9-10  Money and possessions do not add up to personal satisfaction.  Money and possessions open up a whole new world of possibilities  Keep “things” in balance by constantly critiquing our daily living and choices  Balance demands an objective understanding of our culture’s values  The drive for money and possessions can destroy relationships, resulting in immoral decisions and compromise

 The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life- style.  Both the inward and the outward aspects of simplicity are essential.  We deceive ourselves if we believe we can possess the inward reality without it having a profound effect on how we live.

 Simplicity is freedom  Complexity is bondage  Simplicity brings joy and balance  Complexity brings anxiety and fear

 Contemporary culture lacks both the inward reality and the outward life-style of simplicity.  We are trapped in a maze of competing attachments.  We have no unity or focus around which our lives are oriented.  Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us

 Take away:  Attempting to give specific application to simplicity runs the risk of a path towards legalism  Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status  Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you  Develop a habit of giving things away – De-accumulate!  Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry – time saving devices?

 Take away:  Learn to enjoy things without owning them – public recreation areas…etc.  Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation – walk whenever you can and marvel at the richness of God’s handiwork  Look with a healthy sense of skepticism at the “buy now, pay later” schemes  Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech

 Take away:  Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God. It is easy to lose focus in the pursuit of legitimate things. Job Position Status Family Friends Security