Rich Simplicity

November 20, 2019

DAILY READINGS

1 Timothy 6:1-10 (MSG)
Luke 21:1-4
This weekend’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 8

FIELD NOTES

^“A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.”

I headed to the closet to count my shoes; I have over 40 pairs.  We all know a woman needs more shoes than a man: one low-heeled black pair; one casual black/brown loafer pair; one high heeled, black dress pump pair; one sparkly black party pair and so on and so on.  How many pairs am I no longer wearing? Remember having one pair of shoes for school and one pair for church?  Have I lost my mind?  Or am I caught in not watching what I am doing?  Just adding to the pile without using what I already have.  How much money did I spend that could have been put to another purpose?  And the really humiliating thing is that God sees my closet!  My “stewardship” is definitely skewed!

But being myself before God is what calls me to take an honest look in my closet—and in any other aspect of life where I am not being mindful that everything is a gift.  Now being a professed “shoe” glutton, how many pairs can I give away by the end of the week?  This bit of lightness has a serious underbelly.  The question of how we view and use our resources is foundational to Christians. 

Hopefully, Mr. Wesley can straighten me out! 

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can. 
― John Wesley

Questions for the Field

1. What could you “release,” give over, or give away to benefit organizations and people around you?
2. Make a list of what is truly needed in one particular area, such as electronics or purses or golf clubs or dog toys or towels or linens or coffee makers, etc. Imagine these things being used (as money or gifts) somewhere else.  [***The list above is an example from my household.  Yours may be different.]

Family Field Talk

1. Have a family “give away” day!
2. Sell excess items on eBay or at a garage sale. Donate the proceeds!

Prayer Guide

Holy God, I am blessed to come to you with my foibles, my waywardness, my inattention to the life you would give me. I am rich when I come to you naked in spirit, offering repentance and asking for reconciliation.  I have only to ask for the desires of your heart to be welcomed home. Amen.