What is true simplicity? I’ve been reading about it this week in ‘Celebration of Discipline’ by Richard Foster.

Living a life of simplicity means having simplicity on both the inside and the outside. Inside, I think this means being a person who is consistent, has integrity, and has a deep contentment in themselves and in their relationship with God. It doesn’t mean ignoring the complexities of life, but it means having a simple centredness on God in all things. Outside, this means living a life free from covetousness, from the need to aquire and have posessions. Perhaps both easier said than done?

Attaining simplicity doesn’t neccessarily mean rejecting all possessions, but instead removes the constant desire for more. It is about an attitude to what we have.

In the words of Richard Foster: ‘Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God that is not ours to keep and can be feely shared with others’. Whatever we have is a gift, and we should use it in the right way.

However, I do think the discipline of simplicity does raise challenges about the way we live our lives – where do we draw the line between what we really need and what we merely want? What should our attitudes to consumerism, the environment etc be? If we have been given money or possessions, we have a responsibility to use them in the right way.

Living in this inner and outer simplicity should be an experience of great freedom. We are freed from the need to try and be things we are not, the need to impress others, the need to always have something more. In other words, I think that through simple living, we can find true and deep contentment.

The challenge of simplicity is summed up well in 1 Timothy 6:

‘Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we can be content with that…

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness…

take hold of life that is truly life.’