“God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising.” Ecclesiastes 7:30
What if I were to say that I yearn for this poverty? We must fight against poverty that is not simple. We should strive for poverty that is simple.
Perhaps embracing a poverty of simplicity is the answer to ending systemic poverty. My frustrations all circle around the issue of my affluence. I’m rich enough to be a magnet that attacts all kinds of garbage.
Richard Foster says, “Experiencing the inward reality [of simplicity] liberates us outwardly. Speech becomes truthful and honest. The lust for status and position is gone because we no longer need status and position. We cease from showy extravagance not on the grounds of being unable to afford it, but on the grounds of principle. Our goods become available to others.“ 1
Jubilee, Redistribution, Ending Your Affluence, Simplicity, Freedom.
(This is an addendum to my previous post for Blog Action Day. I just could not end with simply complaining about my lacking. Now I’m going somewhere!)
Tags: poverty, simplicity, blog action day, affluence, jubilee
- Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
, p. 80 ↩
One Comment
I like this idea of simplicity being much more than just being uneducated. To most, I would think, when they(I) hear the word “simple”, we think of something lacking, but here in this blog you have made it sound like simplicity is actually being fuller, having more!
cool.