With world problems constantly infiltrating our minds, personal difficulties, overloaded schedules, and less time to enjoy nature, family and friends, do you feel like you are on a treadmill that never stops or even slows down? And if your time alone with God is also lacking, you can take steps to a simpler life — steps that will be more fulfilling even in times of difficulty with just a few steps.
• Step 1 — “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21 NIV1984).This verse isn’t saying we can’t have material possessions, but rather that we should not prioritize them. Investing in those things offers no long-lasting satisfaction or peace of mind. “Only one life be made twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last” (C.T. Studd, British missionary).
• Step 2 — “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). We are never satisfied, always wanting more. To enjoy a simpler life, we need to declutter our homes by getting rid of things that are useless and worn out. Our consumer-driven world tempts us to buy what we don’t need, weakening our self-control. Finding contentment takes practice, but learning what you can live without will take away a lot of stress. It is one of the benefits of living simply and glorifying God.
• Step 3 — Attempting to gain success by any method — good or bad — often comes at the expense of families, church, health and peace of mind. Everything can be taken from us in a moment’s notice. Loss of job, economic devastation or natural disasters do not ask for our permission. “Whoever has money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Eccl. 5:10). Paul warned Timothy that “the love of money isa root of all kinds of evil…”(I Tim. 6:10). Several verses later, he says: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to begenerous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves… so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (17-19).
• Step 4 — Establishinga special time to commune with God is the most important step in enjoying a simpler life. We mentioned learning contentment, disposing of unnecessary “stuff,” reworking our busy schedules and trusting God instead of wealth. These are all necessary to make our lives calmer, more peaceful, more joyful, more fulfilling and certainly less stressful.
The mind, however, needs to be decluttered as well. Spending too much time on our cell phones absorbing unnecessary and even harmful information can hinder our time with God and even increase our anxiety. Communing with God regularly helps us to grow spiritually, to understand His will, and to enjoy a more peaceful and productive life in Him.
While these steps do not keep away trials and temptations, they give more meaning to life. We start treasuring the most important things. They establish a line between devotion to the world and devotion to God. “Come near to God and he will come near to you…” (James 4:8). Don’t we all desire that?
