By Not Known
It was not too long ago that we had our Great Singapore Sale. This week, Christmas decorations are already up along the road outside our church signifying the upcoming Great Christmas sale. The dilemma of keeping life simple and without clutter is going to take another beating. Actually, we face this dilemma whether or not there is a sale. But sales bring this dilemma of our zeroing in on acquiring to new chaotic heights.
John Wesley once said, ”The essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity…“
Soren Kierkegaard also wrote that, “Purity of heart is to will one thing: God.” With Singaporeans, it is going to be difficutt to be contented with simplicity and thereby purity. The need to acquire prevents that. And with it, holiness. How do we keep life simple when we have multiple passions? If our life is not just about God and nothing else, how do we maintain holiness?
Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians reiterated this: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from… lust.” Lust not just in sexuality but also in fulfilling our physical desires of possessions. In order for us to maintain holiness in the Lord, we need to learn to abstain from
things that defile us.
Jesus’ advice is simple: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… and all your other anxiety will be taken care of. The secret is focus.
Here are some practical useful advice from Richard Foster:
- Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
- Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
- Develop a habit of giving things away.
- Refuse to be propagandised by the custodians of modern gadgety.
- Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
- Look with a healthy skepticism at all ”buy now, pay later” schemes.
- Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of
God .