Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 2

Living simple: lighten the load alone.

BY: CHIOMA PHILLIPS 3. Possessions restrict: Anything
you value or keep as treasure
here, where moth and rust destroy,
There’s not much that I want in life (got that from a song).
means that those things have
life. Truly. I find there’s too much
taken up room expressly reserved
complexity around me and I really Then I met God, and He took me
desire simplicity. If there was a on a crash course on the purpose for God.
way I could summarize my needs of having anything: money, At several points in my journey I
and wants in this life it would be: power, possessions relationships have just gotten up and given things
or money away, it has perturbed
To please my Father in Heaven, etc and He really shifted my
some of the people who know
greatly. perspective. He taught me that
strength is not given for the sake me, but they didn’t understand
I don’t want things, I don’t want of having strength alone, but that the reasons why I do it. I just don’t
status, I don’t want money... to whom much is given, much is want to be bound by anything,
ever. I don’t want to be told what
actually I hate money - the way required. (That’s from the Bible,
to do by a thing. I don’t want the
people let it control and define not Spiderman). That the value
them (whether they have it or not) of things, rests only in the value spirit behind the possession to
and the way those who have it which He, God, assigns to these own or control or try to define me.
think they can control and define things. Once I thought I got it, He I don’t want to feel beholden to
the giver of the item. I don’t want
you, when in actual fact, it has arranged to teach me through
to be owned. I don’t want to think
them. several hot, heavy lessons that
I wasn’t always like this. I used I hadn’t really got it. During this I’m rich because I own a certain
to loooove things. Fine things. period of time I got so tired of item, or I’m poor because I don’t. I
Fine cars. Fine clothes. Fine hair things - fine things, ugly things, all don’t want the world getting in my
heart and getting a hold of me and
and nails, perfumes and shoes. things - that I just wanted to be free
telling me that this is the way that I
All the fine things a person could of it all. I remember one day feeling
want. I wanted a fine guy, fine job, so trapped and bogged down and ought or ought not to be living. No!
fine house with all the finery that restricted by the things around me,
comes with those things. Well, that I could have thrown the items It’s not in the possession of things
or the lack of them that I am made
all this desire for fine-ness got that were in my possession out
whole. It’s in the walk with God,
me into enough hot soup to feed on the street for anyone to have.
a nation. With all the desire for That’s how much I wanted to be His definition of who and what I am
fine things came a desire for the free of them, because I discovered and the ability to stay loose and
recognition of people (status), the extreme lack of liberty that they flexible to be able to do whatever
HE has desired, that I find my rest.
approval from people, friends, brought.
bosses... especially white bosses
who I used to think were superior Here’s what I learnt: Let God supply your need:
creatures in some weird warped 1. Possessions possess: Anything encouragement, love, joy, hope,
way. I was a brainwashed fine- that is not God has the power to support, friendship, food, clothes,
peace, security, housing, cars,
living Afrikan girl. possess you. Name it: family,
rent etc. Let Him do this through
money, cars, status, power,
I remember growing up, we didn’t authority, the respect of men. whatever means He has chosen
have much at times. God adjusted They just have a sneaky way of (and yes, He may even use people)
our lives along the way to make taking the place that is expressly and let Him remain the primary
source of all your joy. If you can do
sure that we learnt how to live reserved for God.
that, you divest yourself of all that
with tightened belts for a while. A
decades long while. It meant that 2. Possessions dictate: If you man holds dear and leave yourself
many of the things that people value anything that you own or loose in His grasp to take care of
could have, we couldn’t. I didn’t are in contact with, more than you and direct as He wills. That way
He can teach you a way to live that
like it. It took me a really long time value the voice of God, you’re in
has absolutely nothing to do with
to understand and be grateful for trouble. That thing can tell you that
the benefit of this training that you have arrived (whatever that this world; and when you’re done,
God was taking me through. At means), where to live, why to live the simplicity of living you will have
the time, it birthed in me a desire there, who to hang out with, who to found in Him will have birthed in
you righteousness, peace and
to get stuff, to earn money, to be ditch, or that you need a security
joy in the Holy Spirit... or in other
seen in some way as some kind of system, and basically that you
king. I believed the lie that money, need to get out of a walk of Faith words, the Kingdom of God.
power and respect are the key to into one that is limited to sight