So what did Jesus value?
“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” —Luke 12:22-34
“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” —Luke 12:15
A simple life is living a life of divine
CREATE MARGIN
Create margin in your life. Simplify it. Eliminate things. Reduce expenses.
So what does simplicity look like practically? How can we be more like Jesus in our lives when it comes to living a simple life that has space in it? What does margin look like? Here’s three areas I want to focus on.
Simplicity of
When it comes to our finances, we don’t need to live within our means, we need to live under our means. We need margin.
“Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep and can be freely shared with others” —Richard Foster
A simple life is a life built around the idea of contentment.
In order to live a simple life, you have to be willing to reduce your expenditures. You have to cut things out of your budget, not add things into it. Godly lives are marked by margin.
Simplicity of
A simple life means we have to make room for Jesus in our daily lives.
A simple life means we make room for others as well.
Simplicity of
“You and I are not always satisfied with the manner in which God deals with us. We would very much like to do something new, something different, something big and dramatic—but we are called back. For everything we need, we are called back to the simplicity of the faith, to the simplicity of Jesus Christ and His unchanging person.” —A.W. Tozer
When it comes to satisfaction or contentment, the question is this…are you satisfied with a life of seeking His Kingdom? Are you content with the greatest goal in your life being, “to know God.”
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” —John 5:19
Prayer & Journaling
- Father, where do I need to create margin in my life?
- Jesus, how can I better serve you with my finances?
- Lord, where have I put my treasure?