November 7

Simplicity

 

But 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 will be content with that.  ––1 Timothy 6:6-8

 

Simplicity is the midwife of generosity.  ––Benji Horning

 

The context of today’s verse is Paul’s letters to his protégé, Timothy, written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. There’s arguably no faster way to simplify your life than to be stuck in a prison cell in ancient Rome, with nothing more than the bare necessities for survival. And still … from this position Paul kept the main thing the main thing.

 

Simple is an adjective, while simplicity is a noun—it’s a thing, something we do. We keep things simple in order to live a life of simplicity. To pursue a life of simplicity means reduction of “clutter”—emotional, mental, physical, and especially, spiritual. In God’s Kingdom, simplicity is increase by decrease—it is what John the Baptist meant when he said, “I decrease that He may increase” regarding His ministry and the ushering in of Jesus’ time (see John 3:30). So on a practical level, what does simplicity look like?

 

• Financial Margin: Living simply means reducing personal consumption, keeping your needs modest, and avoiding lifestyle inflation. This automatically frees up material resources—money, food, possessions—that you can freely give to others.
• Time Margin: A complicated, cluttered life is usually a busy one. Simplifying your schedule, commitments, and digital distractions gives you the gift of time. You become available to listen, volunteer, and show up for people in crisis.
• Emotional Margin: Excess clutter—whether physical or mental—breeds anxiety and self-focus. When you clear that noise, you develop a higher capacity for empathy. Your mind is no longer consumed by managing your own “stuff,” allowing you to notice the needs of those around you.
• Generosity Margin: Simplicity breaks the cycle of accumulation. When you decide that what you have is enough, the desire to hoard disappears, and the impulse to share takes its place.

 

The thought of simplifying a cluttered life might seem overwhelming. Start with one or two areas and focus on those. The absolute best place to begin is with your daily time with God. Even if you don’t have a regular time, start with a few days a week, five minutes a day. Start there and build up. But it won’t happen unless you schedule it into your calendar. The same goes with downtime—unless you plan to make time for your kids, spouse, and friends, it may not happen.

 

I close with this fantastic quote from author Richard Foster:

 

Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.[1]

 

Lord, help me understand the power of simplicity—I want greater margin so I can be more  available to others and more generous with me time, talents, and treasure.

[1] Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, HarperOne, NY, 1978.