My Definition Of A Simple Life
Designed On Canva
The desires of man are insatiable, the more we get, the more we crave for more, sometimes, it looks like a trap to even be exposed to certain advantages like money. It is a very nice thing to live well, have whatever you want, eat whatever you desire, and visit places of your choice, any day, anytime but that can become a problem if it gets to a point where it becomes too consistent.
While growing up, I came across a scripture that really blessed my life. Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread (Proverbs 30 vs 8) To be too rich or too poor is a very terrible thing, as both have the ability to make you deviate in life.
A man who has so much would love to show off, follow the trend, and live largely, thus making him or her spend unnecessarily to satisfy that lust. A poor man on the other hand has a lot of challenges, he or she has to strive hard to survive, and he or she lives a very low life that might even lead him or her astray if care is not taken. To be too rich or poor can be a setup unless you know the God whom you serve too well.
Living a minimal life is neither for the poor nor for the rich alone, anyone can live it, it's just a matter of choice. It's funny how some people think a simple lifestyle is only for the poor because they don't have what it takes. When a rich person tries to live a simple life, you hear people say things like, "This man or woman is stingy to himself or herself."
Most people think that living an extravagant life is the true show of riches and wealth, unknown to them that the richest man is he who can give all he has for others to live and the one who wears expensive things and drives exotic cars. Am I saying it is wrong to wear expensive clothes or drive expensive cars? Far from that. If you don't treat yourself nicely, you are a very wicked person. They say "Charity begins from home"
All I am trying to say is, that it shouldn't exceed boundaries, there are some things we do that are uncalled for. There are things we buy that are unnecessary, there are ways we spend that we don't ought to. I don't have so much yet but I must confess, I am guilty of this too.
Last week, checked my transactions on my mobile App for the previous month and I was surprised at the kind of money I spent, here comes the question, what did I do with it? What did I spend it on? There was nothing tangible to show for it. The annoying thing is I still have some of my basic needs unattended to.
What should a simple lifestyle look like?
For me, a simple is a life of gratitude and contentment, it's a life where you go for the basic things alone, and decide to turn a deaf ear to the competition and pressure of society.
I was interacting with a friend the other day and he asked me a sensitive question jokingly, he said, "Why do we work"? I said "To earn", then he replied, " What do we do with the money afterward"? I laughed and said " Cater for ourselves" and he said, "That is, all the labor of man on earth is for food".
It sounded funny but that is it, although it's not just for food it's the major one. These days we seem to go too extreme chasing vanities. We pressure ourselves so much about things that don't even matter. You go to eat the most expensive food in the best restaurants every day when you can actually cook a better one at home at a cheaper rate. All you want is for people to know that you have also arrived. If you have so much, why not use it to help others in need?
You see, most people who are greedy today are the way they are because of the love of vanities, minimalists are really greedy, I will tell you why, the little they have is enough for them, they are not looking for the whole bag, they just need what is essential.
It's high time we start checking our lives, what do we spend on? How important are those things? Some of us spend on things that matter but in the wrong way. money doesn't last a second in our hands. We want to get whatever we see with our eyes not minding if it's important or not.
Well, the scripture up there has the true definition of a simple life for me, a life where you have just what you need, not too much and not less. A life where you are not deprived of your basic needs and have no concern for what is not needed.
Shout out to @terganftp, thank you for giving me another opportunity to share my thoughts with everyone here. It's a great privilege, I really appreciate it.