Living a Simple Life
Luke 12:14-21; I Timothy 6:6-10,17-19
As newborns we bring nothing into this world and likewise, when we die, we take nothing out of the world. But in between many of us accumulate a lot of possessions. Our family is particularly aware of that reality because we recently lost Rose, the very special matriarch of the Warner family, and she left behind “stuff”. This week her older sister Helen, who lives just down the road from her place, is also expected to pass away. Many of you have already experienced similar losses and the needful work that follows. Rose’s home in Florida has 8 rooms, a large garage, and an attic. Her lifetime’s possessions, though pared down, will still require my husband and me to travel south and take time to sort through it.
I greatly admired Rose for who she was as a Christian and how she lived a simple, contented life. Each day she did her best to be a disciple who followed the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. She never emerged from behind her bedroom door in the morning before reading her devotionals and having a time of prayer with her Lord. That grounded her as she raised three children and worked as an executive secretary. In church she sang with the sopranos, helped bake and do handcrafts, taught children, and adult classes and much more. At home she was an amazing steward, known for buying the basics for the home and family, but also given to quiet acts of generosity. Her first choice of careful budgeting made it possible for her to support people in need at some critical points in their life.
She had a true partner in her husband Charlie, affectionately called “Rev.” She made and maintained close friendships over the years. From all that I saw, and heard, Rose managed to live a life that was full of the right things.
She’d often say that all she needed, God had provided or would provide. She was a woman of faith who lived an in-balance and well prioritized life; she prayed often and kept trusting in God to provide whatever she needed. And God did provide for her again and again!
You and I are also meant to live satisfying, in-balance, generous lives, but to do so takes intentionality and God’s help. If we want to “take hold of the life that is really life” (I Timothy 6:19), today’s Scripture passages are great guides. In Luke 12 the very rich man was insistent he use his own time and energy and be onsite to oversee the building of his new barns. He chose to put off to a later date some down time with his family. He wasn’t there for dinner time, missing out on good food and the relaxing chatter of his family. He deferred his chance for joy assuming that later on, when life slowed down, he’d kick back in an easy chair and appreciate his fine home and spend quality time with his family that loved him. But the rich man died suddenly and never got to enjoy the results of his hard work. He spent most of his time at the office, and rarely sat in the fine lounging chair he’d bought for himself at home. Even sadder, he and his family lost out on the opportunity to be close to one another. It’s implied that he had a workaholic lifestyle; if that was the case, they likely had very few memories of him. Isn’t that sad to think about? Yet aren’t there people today like the man in this parable pursuing more and more and more wealth? Do you think they realize what their choices are costing them in other areas of their lives?
Jesus told this story because he wanted his followers, and us today, to make much wiser choices. One foundational truth we need to do this is to understand that God is the Creator of all things, the Divine Giver. In Genesis we learn that God has instructed us to use whatever we find on earth to feed and clothe ourselves, to build homes and go about our daily work. Fast-forward to our modern era and we see an industrious and well-populated world. But the principle remains; the Creator charges us this responsibility: Be good stewards. We get to use nature’s vast, amazing resources to benefit ourselves, but we must always recognize God’s ultimate ownership.
With that in mind, consider how many rooms are in your home, plus the space in your garage, attic, or outbuildings if you have those. Really see in your mind’s eye all of the possessions you’ve accumulated. First, I bet that’s a lot to take in, but also, do you realize they’re yours because God helped you work and buy all that stuff? Then consider whatever money you may have in a bank account, savings account, or investments. You earned that as well because God gave you physical strength or dexterity for your job(s), or you had a mind keen on learning specialized skills. The One who empowers you and me for employment is God. As we consider that and see what we’ve accumulated, I hope we’ll be more mindful than ever before that God is so good to us. I invite you to take a few moments right now to thank God. Thank God for all of the jobs you’ve had and the income you earned. Thank God for the basics you have (food, water, clothing, shelter, access to medicine and transportation). Finally, thank God for any nice luxuries you may have (camper, fine jewelry, motorcycle, second vehicles, riding lawnmowers, home exercise equipment, etc.)
The second Scripture we heard today was written by the apostle Paul, who gave advice to Timothy, a young pastor he was mentoring. The young minister was told to be very direct in his messages to the congregation. Paul said: “Command those who are rich in your congregation to stop being so arrogant.” Tell them that chasing after wealth can hurt them, it’s a foolish pursuit. Command them instead to be generous and willing to share, to be known as someone who is rich in good deeds. Paul’s final line is my favorite: live this way and “you’ll take hold of life that is truly life.”
The man building more barns was focused on hoarding his valuable assets in his barns, not sharing them with others or lending them. He was selfish with his massive wealth, never imagining how uncertain life could be. It’s good for us to consider whether or not we might have a greedy streak, or if there are times we feel a bit arrogant because we’re better off financially than others. We should honestly assess whether or not it could be said that we are generous. And if we were asked, would we gladly lend our possessions to others, if it could help them out? These were likely the same sort of questions young Timothy asked his own congregation - they are timeless and relevant for every generation of Christians.
Now let’s consider some practical life applications of today’s Scripture lessons. To do that, I’ll start with a key question. Can you or I “have it all” in life? Can our lives realistically include time for a meaningful career, a beautiful, well-cared for home, quality time with family, time to take some fun vacations, time to invest in close friendships, time to cook healthy meals, exercise and remember to see our doctors and dentist? What about making time for worship each Sunday, plus serving the church’s ministries? Last, but not least, can we do all of the above and still get 8 hours of sleep?
Can anyone do all these things - can we “have it all”? I hope your answer is no, and you’re open to seeing things in a new way. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all types of greed; life doesn’t consist of having an abundance of possessions.” Jesus spoke very directly here; this warning about “all types of greed” interfering is a truth he wanted us to follow. The word greed means “a desire for more than what we really need.” Remember that “can I have it all in life” list? God can help us balance our work and rest, our family and friend times, our time for church and chores at home.
Here’s what I challenge you to do: make the time to prayerfully take an audit of how you are spending your time. I encourage you to look back at a typical week or month and calculate how you spent your days. List what your priorities were based on the way you spent your time, then consider whether or not that is on target and good, or if it’s not giving you the balanced life you want. Figure out what’s missing - what you aren’t doing that matters a great deal to you. Then note when you wasted a lot of time on things that don’t much matter.
An honest inventory like this can be life-changing. I urge you to try this, then pray and ask God what He most wants for your life. Then, make adjustments. Form new habits. Over time will come positive changes; watch for those improvements, perhaps with your health, or a boost in your social life, or a better sharing of chores. God wants to help you do more of what matters!
Once we have audited how we use our time, it’s valuable to do the same with our finances. Do you know where your money goes? Do you have a plan or budget? If you do, and you follow it, that sets priorities for your money. It’s a powerful tool that can hold us accountable so we’re good stewards. It can help us avoid impulse buying and getting into unwanted debt.
Some households set up automatic electronic deposits and withdrawals based on their income and expenses. I’ve also heard of people who put cash in envelopes; each is designated for a particular expense. When the money is gone, you have to wait until the next paycheck. Whatever you decide to use, it will help you be disciplined in your spending, and it can also help you put savings aside. Would it be good for you to make and use a budget? Or is it time to update your budget? If you know this would help you be a better steward, I hope you’ll soon create and use a budget. When followed it works beautifully, and what is priceless is the peace of mind you will feel.
One last thing we can do has nothing at all to do with dollars and cents or possessions or our time. It’s a heart matter. The Bible says we can learn to be content - content with what we already have in life. The way we begin to cultivate contentment is to decide that as a Christian it’s enough to enjoy the basics. The alternate, more mainstream path chosen by many is to go big and new and luxurious. As Christians who seek to imitate Jesus, we’re not necessarily aiming for upward mobility, if anything Jesus calls us to downward mobility. A few good questions to ask yourself would be “Could I be content if I lived in a decent, average home?” and “Would I be willing to buy and drive a good used car?”
I read a fascinating article this week about accumulating wealth and how that impacts our happiness. The author said that if we (first-world) citizens have about $75,000, we’re pretty satisfied in life. If we accumulate more money than that our degree of happiness does not increase.
If you and I want to feel genuine contentment with what we have in life, one way we can do that is to embrace living with the basics, not looking at or lusting for the next thing that is larger, or fancier for our lives. In I Timothy 6:6 Paul said “Godliness with contentment – is an excellent way to live.” Another way to cement a sense of contentment is to thank God every day for all that we have. The deeper our gratitude, the less pull we feel to accumulate “more stuff”.
My hope for all of us is to live simple lives, much like Rose did. If we will be intentional and ask God to help us - our lives can be in balance, our finances well-budgeted and used and our hearts can be content. Thanks be to God!
I greatly admired Rose for who she was as a Christian and how she lived a simple, contented life. Each day she did her best to be a disciple who followed the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. She never emerged from behind her bedroom door in the morning before reading her devotionals and having a time of prayer with her Lord. That grounded her as she raised three children and worked as an executive secretary. In church she sang with the sopranos, helped bake and do handcrafts, taught children, and adult classes and much more. At home she was an amazing steward, known for buying the basics for the home and family, but also given to quiet acts of generosity. Her first choice of careful budgeting made it possible for her to support people in need at some critical points in their life.
She had a true partner in her husband Charlie, affectionately called “Rev.” She made and maintained close friendships over the years. From all that I saw, and heard, Rose managed to live a life that was full of the right things.
She’d often say that all she needed, God had provided or would provide. She was a woman of faith who lived an in-balance and well prioritized life; she prayed often and kept trusting in God to provide whatever she needed. And God did provide for her again and again!
You and I are also meant to live satisfying, in-balance, generous lives, but to do so takes intentionality and God’s help. If we want to “take hold of the life that is really life” (I Timothy 6:19), today’s Scripture passages are great guides. In Luke 12 the very rich man was insistent he use his own time and energy and be onsite to oversee the building of his new barns. He chose to put off to a later date some down time with his family. He wasn’t there for dinner time, missing out on good food and the relaxing chatter of his family. He deferred his chance for joy assuming that later on, when life slowed down, he’d kick back in an easy chair and appreciate his fine home and spend quality time with his family that loved him. But the rich man died suddenly and never got to enjoy the results of his hard work. He spent most of his time at the office, and rarely sat in the fine lounging chair he’d bought for himself at home. Even sadder, he and his family lost out on the opportunity to be close to one another. It’s implied that he had a workaholic lifestyle; if that was the case, they likely had very few memories of him. Isn’t that sad to think about? Yet aren’t there people today like the man in this parable pursuing more and more and more wealth? Do you think they realize what their choices are costing them in other areas of their lives?
Jesus told this story because he wanted his followers, and us today, to make much wiser choices. One foundational truth we need to do this is to understand that God is the Creator of all things, the Divine Giver. In Genesis we learn that God has instructed us to use whatever we find on earth to feed and clothe ourselves, to build homes and go about our daily work. Fast-forward to our modern era and we see an industrious and well-populated world. But the principle remains; the Creator charges us this responsibility: Be good stewards. We get to use nature’s vast, amazing resources to benefit ourselves, but we must always recognize God’s ultimate ownership.
With that in mind, consider how many rooms are in your home, plus the space in your garage, attic, or outbuildings if you have those. Really see in your mind’s eye all of the possessions you’ve accumulated. First, I bet that’s a lot to take in, but also, do you realize they’re yours because God helped you work and buy all that stuff? Then consider whatever money you may have in a bank account, savings account, or investments. You earned that as well because God gave you physical strength or dexterity for your job(s), or you had a mind keen on learning specialized skills. The One who empowers you and me for employment is God. As we consider that and see what we’ve accumulated, I hope we’ll be more mindful than ever before that God is so good to us. I invite you to take a few moments right now to thank God. Thank God for all of the jobs you’ve had and the income you earned. Thank God for the basics you have (food, water, clothing, shelter, access to medicine and transportation). Finally, thank God for any nice luxuries you may have (camper, fine jewelry, motorcycle, second vehicles, riding lawnmowers, home exercise equipment, etc.)
The second Scripture we heard today was written by the apostle Paul, who gave advice to Timothy, a young pastor he was mentoring. The young minister was told to be very direct in his messages to the congregation. Paul said: “Command those who are rich in your congregation to stop being so arrogant.” Tell them that chasing after wealth can hurt them, it’s a foolish pursuit. Command them instead to be generous and willing to share, to be known as someone who is rich in good deeds. Paul’s final line is my favorite: live this way and “you’ll take hold of life that is truly life.”
The man building more barns was focused on hoarding his valuable assets in his barns, not sharing them with others or lending them. He was selfish with his massive wealth, never imagining how uncertain life could be. It’s good for us to consider whether or not we might have a greedy streak, or if there are times we feel a bit arrogant because we’re better off financially than others. We should honestly assess whether or not it could be said that we are generous. And if we were asked, would we gladly lend our possessions to others, if it could help them out? These were likely the same sort of questions young Timothy asked his own congregation - they are timeless and relevant for every generation of Christians.
Now let’s consider some practical life applications of today’s Scripture lessons. To do that, I’ll start with a key question. Can you or I “have it all” in life? Can our lives realistically include time for a meaningful career, a beautiful, well-cared for home, quality time with family, time to take some fun vacations, time to invest in close friendships, time to cook healthy meals, exercise and remember to see our doctors and dentist? What about making time for worship each Sunday, plus serving the church’s ministries? Last, but not least, can we do all of the above and still get 8 hours of sleep?
Can anyone do all these things - can we “have it all”? I hope your answer is no, and you’re open to seeing things in a new way. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all types of greed; life doesn’t consist of having an abundance of possessions.” Jesus spoke very directly here; this warning about “all types of greed” interfering is a truth he wanted us to follow. The word greed means “a desire for more than what we really need.” Remember that “can I have it all in life” list? God can help us balance our work and rest, our family and friend times, our time for church and chores at home.
Here’s what I challenge you to do: make the time to prayerfully take an audit of how you are spending your time. I encourage you to look back at a typical week or month and calculate how you spent your days. List what your priorities were based on the way you spent your time, then consider whether or not that is on target and good, or if it’s not giving you the balanced life you want. Figure out what’s missing - what you aren’t doing that matters a great deal to you. Then note when you wasted a lot of time on things that don’t much matter.
An honest inventory like this can be life-changing. I urge you to try this, then pray and ask God what He most wants for your life. Then, make adjustments. Form new habits. Over time will come positive changes; watch for those improvements, perhaps with your health, or a boost in your social life, or a better sharing of chores. God wants to help you do more of what matters!
Once we have audited how we use our time, it’s valuable to do the same with our finances. Do you know where your money goes? Do you have a plan or budget? If you do, and you follow it, that sets priorities for your money. It’s a powerful tool that can hold us accountable so we’re good stewards. It can help us avoid impulse buying and getting into unwanted debt.
Some households set up automatic electronic deposits and withdrawals based on their income and expenses. I’ve also heard of people who put cash in envelopes; each is designated for a particular expense. When the money is gone, you have to wait until the next paycheck. Whatever you decide to use, it will help you be disciplined in your spending, and it can also help you put savings aside. Would it be good for you to make and use a budget? Or is it time to update your budget? If you know this would help you be a better steward, I hope you’ll soon create and use a budget. When followed it works beautifully, and what is priceless is the peace of mind you will feel.
One last thing we can do has nothing at all to do with dollars and cents or possessions or our time. It’s a heart matter. The Bible says we can learn to be content - content with what we already have in life. The way we begin to cultivate contentment is to decide that as a Christian it’s enough to enjoy the basics. The alternate, more mainstream path chosen by many is to go big and new and luxurious. As Christians who seek to imitate Jesus, we’re not necessarily aiming for upward mobility, if anything Jesus calls us to downward mobility. A few good questions to ask yourself would be “Could I be content if I lived in a decent, average home?” and “Would I be willing to buy and drive a good used car?”
I read a fascinating article this week about accumulating wealth and how that impacts our happiness. The author said that if we (first-world) citizens have about $75,000, we’re pretty satisfied in life. If we accumulate more money than that our degree of happiness does not increase.
If you and I want to feel genuine contentment with what we have in life, one way we can do that is to embrace living with the basics, not looking at or lusting for the next thing that is larger, or fancier for our lives. In I Timothy 6:6 Paul said “Godliness with contentment – is an excellent way to live.” Another way to cement a sense of contentment is to thank God every day for all that we have. The deeper our gratitude, the less pull we feel to accumulate “more stuff”.
My hope for all of us is to live simple lives, much like Rose did. If we will be intentional and ask God to help us - our lives can be in balance, our finances well-budgeted and used and our hearts can be content. Thanks be to God!