CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINEB Y R I C H A R D J . F O S T E R

THE PROMISE OF SIMPLICITY

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,To turn, turn will be our delight,Till by turning, turning we come 'round right

-“Simple Gift” a Shaker hymn by Elder Joseph Brackett.

Do you yearn to come down in that “just right” place? To be in the valley of love and delight?

“Simplicity brings joy and balance. Duplicity brings anxiety and fear.” p.79

THE NEED FOR SIMPLICITY

What does the absence of simplicity look like?

“We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. “We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.” Where planned obsolescence leaves off, psychological obsolescence takes over. We are made to feel ashamed to wear clothes or drive cars until they are worn out. The mass media have convinced us that to be out of step with fashion is to be out of step with reality. It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick.” p. 80

BIBLICAL WITNESS

Luke 16:13 “No Servant can serve 2 masters…” Matthew 6:19-21 “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 13:44-45 “kingdom of heaven is like…” Hebrews 13:5 “be content…” Deuteronomy 8:10-20 “do not forget the Lord…”

THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF SIMPLICITY

Why must we be so careful in our seeking of simplicity? This discipline is the most visible and therefore the most open to corruption. We must have a clear focal point for this practice, and so we do.

Matthew 6:25-33

The central point for the Discipline of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of his kingdom first and then everything necessary will come in its proper order. p.86

Focus upon the kingdom produces the inward reality, and without the inward reality we will degenerate into legalistic trivia. Nothing else can be central. The desire to get out of the rat race cannot be central, the redistribution of the world’s wealth cannot be central, the concern for ecology cannot be central. Seeking first God’s kingdom and the righteousness, both personal and social, of that kingdom is the only thing that can be central in the Spiritual Discipline of simplicity. p.87

Freedom from anxiety is characterized by three inner attitudes:1. What we have is a gift.2. What we have is to be cared for and sustained by God.3. We what we have is available to others.

THE OUTWARD EXPRESSIONS OF SIMPLICITY

“Every attempt to give specific application to simplicity runs the risk of deterioration into legalism. It is a risk, however, that we must take, for to refuse to discuss specifics would banish the Discipline to the theoretical.” p.89

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.2. Reject anything producing an addiction in you.3. Develop a habit of giving things away.4. Refuse to believe the propaganda of modern gadgetry.5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.6. Develop a deeper appreciation of creation.7. Be skeptical or “buy now, pay later” schemes.8. Employ plain, honest speech.9. Reject anything that breeds oppression of others.10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God.

May God give you—and me—the courage, the wisdom, the strength always to hold the kingdom of God as the number-one priority of our lives. To do so is to live in simplicity.

REFLECTION AND CHALLENGES

1. Take time to consider the 3 inner attitudes that Foster outlines. Which one poses the greatest challenge to you? Consider Why.

2. Take one hour this week to consider the major areas of responsibility and desire in your life. How do they align with seeking the Kingdom of God first? Where might you need to make changes?