Thursday, May 29, 2008

Live Simply For the Sake Of The Gospel

Shaun Groves challenged me this morning:

Why live simply?

  • 1. To free up resources which should be spent on those presently in need. Less time, thought, and money spent on ourselves means - in theory - more time, thought and money that can be spent on others. Example: Getting rid of cable frees up enough money to meet the needs of two children every month and enough time (about four hours a day) to play a game with the kids, go on a date with my wife, exercise, take a real Sabbath, and get to know the neighbors.

  • 2. To prevent need. The less energy, natural resources and store-bought stuff we use, the less negative impact on the environment, health and economics of others. Example: There is said to be a link between my consumption of stuff, the deforestation of South and Central America, and drought in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • 3. To invest in personal health - mental, spiritual, relational and physical. Living with less stuff, fewer chemicals, and more time increases the odds that we’ll also enjoy more spiritual dependence and focus, less stress, more and stronger relationships, greater freedom in decision making, and improved overall health. Example: Not having a text plan or a phone that allows me to text easily keeps me fully present in conversations, making those I’m with feel listened to and important.

  • How do we live simply then?
  • 1. Subtract most/all of what’s not needed from our lives. Step one: Take stock of where our time, money, and resources are currently spent and how much stuff, time and money we presently have. Step two: Determine what “need” is. It helps to see people living on the bare essentials firsthand. Step three: Commit to subtract excess from our lives incrementally and tally up the savings of time, money and environmental impact as we go. Example: This month, get rid of cable and count up the hours and cash saved. Next month, nix caffeine and count the savings. In the winter, plant a garden and notice how much better it feels to eat more chemical-free food. Take baby steps and measure the difference they make.

  • 2. Add most/all of what we have to the lives of others. Simplifying saves money and time. Put money aside for the needs of others: The friend who can’t afford counseling, the neighbor who can’t afford medical care, the crisis pregnancy center that needs a sonogram machine. Put aside time to invest in people. Choose not to use all the time once wasted watching TV on getting more work done now. Spent that time with family, friends and neighbors, alone relaxing, on a hobby or serving somewhere. Interestingly, if I don’t have the time to be with people I won’t be aware of the needs of people.

  • Even more simply put: Take less. Give more.
    One thing I'm not hearing Shaun say here, but I think he would affirm is that we should live simply, but not as an end in itself. We should live simply for the sake of the Gospel. John Piper writes very well on this in my favorite chapter in Desiring God, the money chapter.

    4 comments:

    joel lee said...

    Amen. I was a little sad that Shaun's post had no mention of living simply FOR GOD. Nothing we do is worth anything unless it's done for the glory of Christ.

    Anonymous said...

    yeah... whether you don't eat or don't drink, or whatever you don't do, don't do it to the glory of God! or something like that.... ;)

    Conner Marshall said...

    A great resource for living simply is Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin or www.simpleliving.net. Definitely a great reminder, though, to do it to the glory of God. It's funny that I can get so upset with my materialistic tendencies, but find myself just as easily obsessing about living simply--or worse yet, becoming self righteous about living simply.

    Anonymous said...

    you really need to read "your best life now". It'll change your life forever.