Life of simplicity

What is a life of simplicity?

Is simplicity equal poverty (like Mother Theresa and Saint Francis of Assisi) or frugality? For example: being careful and keep re-thinking and discussing (between spouses) whether to buy that video recorder? Is the “Poverty Saint Syndrome” the way to holiness for the Christians (like Mother Theresa; Saint Anthony who sold away all his wealth and lived in poverty; like Saint Francis who foregone all his father’s wealth and lived a life of asceticism??)

When you have just sufficient for the family, living in simplicity is easy. (You don’t have a choice to spend and to waste).

Last Sunday, Pastor shared how he lives a life of simplicity and how he spends prudently. It is quite easy to live simply and spends prudently when you just have sufficient. Hearing him talking and his needs for a piggy-bank as a reminder to save tells me that he does not have abundance. How much should full-time church workers be paid? Shouldn’t their salary be peg to those working as social workers and counselors?

Ya!! Maybe the church should relook into his salary!! :) What do the rest of you think?

How does one who has abundances yet lives a life of simplicity?

Is it OK when we have abundance to also adopt a life of convenience? By that, I mean buying 2 cars (one is a very cheap car) to make travelling and transportation more convenient for the family? Have 2 or more computers at home so that family members need not wait for one another to use it. Having a mobile iPhone … Is there any wrong with these?


Or is a life of simplicity just a change of mind-set?: (This is what I do)

(1) Not pressured into last minute purchase – No “last day sales discount”?

(2) Buy for needs rather than wants – is a hand phone a need or a want?

(3) Share rather than own things – one computer 4 or 5 people share?

(4) No need branded goods – normal running shoes, No Nike, Adidas or New Balance?

(5) “Waste not, want not” mentality

(6) Habit to give freely

(7) No addiction, no covetousness – see a nice handbag, must buy. No free football channel, must subscribed to pay TV?.

Like to hear from you all! :)

Silence versus Speech

Today’s Devotion from Our Daily Bread, reminds me of the verse in Ecclesiastes 3:7b “a time to be silent and a time to speak”

The quote at the end of the devotion passage “Silence can be valuable; don’t break it unless you can improve on it.” give me a guide when to remain silent or when to speak up.

There are places where we must speak up. Group Bible study is one of these places. Oftentimes, I find that people come to Bible study and behave like a phantom. Quietly they come and go, without any sharing. Even if they are called to share, it’s either a monosyllable or repeating what others have said. And I am not talking about newcomers into our Bible study group; they have been with us for a long time.

In a relationship, conversation is necessary. We open our lives to others and learn of what others are going through life. Blogging is one of those ways where we share our lives and our thoughts. However, I find that none of my so call “friends” really bother to share or blog about what they are going through in their lives. Often times, it is important to add a comment to others’ blog. It is about “giving” your thoughts after reading his post. I believe I have done my fair shares to those blogs that I have read. (Though none are from Bethany) How strong a community of faith is, is measured by the depth of its sharing. Although I am out of bound to the Living Water BSG and the Eden BSG, I think the ladies Bible Study groups should probably be stronger than the guys’. Only then can they pull together and do meaningful project like raising fund for the Haiti Crisis.

Silent does have its place though. Listen and reflect what others are saying. Listen to sermon and reflect deeply on them. When be falsely accused, it is best to remain silence. When we need to defend, Eph 4:15 applies – Speak, Truth, Love


Above all learn to be silent & listen to God. (will share about this in future)

PTL