Simplicity

I subscribe to John Stott's daily thoughts.  Here is another gem:

Materialism is an obsession with material things.


Asceticism is the denial of the good gifts of the Creator.

Pharisaism is binding ourselves and other people with

rules. Instead, we should stick to principles. The

principle of simplicity is clear. Simplicity is the first

cousin of contentment. Its motto is, 'We brought nothing

into this world, and we can certainly carry nothing out.'

It recognizes that we are pilgrims.

It concentrates on what we *need*, and measures this by

what we *use*. It rejoices in the good things of creation,

but hates waste and greed and clutter. It knows how easily

the seed of the Word is smothered by the 'cares and riches

of this life'. It wants to be free of distractions, in

order to love and serve God and others.



--From "The Christian and the Poor" (All Souls Paper:

London: All Souls Church, 16 February 1981).



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--Excerpted from "Authentic Christianity", p. 363, by

permission of InterVarsity Press.