A Simple Lifestyle - Can I achieve it?
Philippians 2[3] Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
A situation where people's lifestyle or standard of living improves as their discretionary income rises either through an increase in income or decrease in costs is called Lifestyle creep. As Lifestyle Creep occurs, and more money is spent on lifestyle, former luxuries are now considered necessities. Lifestyle Creep is particularly a problem to those individuals approaching retirement. People, five to ten years before retirement are typically in their peak earning years, but at the same time many of their earlier expenses, such as paying off a mortgage, or raising a family have been reduced dramatically. Faced with a surplus of cash, some people use it to buy more expensive cars, more expensive vacations or possibly a second home. Since the goal in retirement is to maintain the lifestyle enjoyed in the last few years before retirement, these retirees require more funds to support their new, more lavish lifestyles. Unfortunately, they don't have the resources to do this because they spent their surplus cash flow.
The world has given us a wisdom, that as we approach the peak of our careers and earning levels, we need to stop increasing our living standards otherwise we will retire unhappy as we will not be able to maintain our living standards...and we retire in a “false” misery as our standards fall. The biblical truth is that wealth that belongs to God is not meant to finance lifestyle as this is not aligned to establish His covenant. What has a Jacuzzi or a new wardrobe got to do with the covenant? Nothing...this responds to the god of our sensual appetites and thirsts well stimulated by advertising and lifestyle media marketing.
What happens as our income increases beyond our normal basic needs? Normal basic needs you will agree refers to feeding, accommodation and care for our households and wards.
First our tastes are aggressively targeted and tempted with a buffet of expenditures, and even after we pay our tithes, offerings and give to the poor and God uses us to meet the needs of others, we come to the conclusion that we can improve our lifestyle and soon become accustomed to an idle car, expensive jewellery and lavish vacations and conclude this is God’s blessing to us. But a subtle Lifestyle Creep sets in and when God asks for His money to be released – as a covenant need emerges we see our lifestyle decline marginally. The flesh immediately screams and we do not perceive how any family possibly can live without a vacation in Europe, expensive education in private schools, a regular replacement of wardrobe and such luxuries which we now imagine are critical to the blessed life. We imagine that we are cursed if our lifestyle standards should ever fall and begin to seek deliverance in our disobedience.
A time of recession is a good time to be delivered of lifestyle creep. Begin to enjoy the simple lifestyle...As Christians let us begin to enjoy lowliness of mind...and allow God to bless us knowing this time we will not squander His promises and blessings on a lifestyle...indeed God has other priorities.
Learn more about recession proof living in my website...http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/
In my book Wealth out of ashes...Chapter 8 is dedicated to the issue of lifestyle creep....http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=63927
Remain focused on Christ and His ways especially in recession.
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