What is biblical simplicity?
6 Nov, 2024If you’ve been on social media any time in the last five years, you would have become familiar with ‘simplicity’. Think capsule wardrobes, minimalist decor and a move towards ethical consumerism, and you will be in the ballpark of secular simplicity.
But biblical simplicity is more than a lifestyle choice – it’s a moral posture.
Biblical simplicity provides a foundation for the Christian life that allows us to better love God and others. By simplifying our wants, we can give more to others. And by simplifying our time, we can sustain meaningful relationships.
Biblical simplicity is key to generosity and hospitality.
Why is biblical simplicity a challenge?
As humans, we always desire more – more money, more possessions, more of whatever will make us happy.
But the widely held belief is that we are always 20% away from achieving this. That is, we need 20% more in order to be happy.
The challenge with this is that we can fall into a pattern of materialism, where our happiness becomes wholly reliant on what we have.
Do you ever notice that spark of joy you feel after a new purchase or when you come into some unexpected income? And have you felt this joy dissipate quite abruptly afterwards, at least until you acquire the next thing?
Or have you experienced a decline in wealth and possessions and felt a long period of unhappiness that followed?
Becoming emotionally reliant on material possessions and money means that we’ll always be searching for the next thing, prioritising acquisition and wealth over Kingdom values, such as generosity and hospitality.
How do we practice biblical simplicity?
It’s important to note that biblical simplicity is not a destination, but more of a means and an outcome of reordering our priorities around Jesus.
In the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl (Matthew 13:44-46), the central characters encounter something far greater than all of their possessions – the kingdom of heaven.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
In this sense, through the light of Jesus, we’re able to find something that actually satisfies us, and therefore all of our earthly possessions lose all meaning.
Practicing simplicity then is an act of worship. It’s about acknowledging that only God can satisfy me (even if that does not feel true). It’s a wrestle with the old self, putting on the new, and battling the temptation of materialism in order to truly find all we need in Christ.
Words by Cassie Holland and Phill Pickering.