Should Christian's live an austere life?

[AServantofGod]

The Bible seems to preach a humble even austere lifestyle. After all, look at how Jesus and his Apostles lived. They owned little, they put others before themselves, they sought nothing more than to serve God and his kingdom.

Now I know the Apostles were the first priests; however, doesn’t that austere lifestyle apply to us as well? If I have shouldn’t I give? If I have more shouldn’t I give more? Shouldn’t I put other’s first even if that means I am always last in life? I can’t recall any of the saints ever wanting to acquire anything more than God’s graces in their life.

 

[puzzleannie]

it is not so much what you have, (or don’t have) but your attitude toward what you have (or don’t have). Poverty and austerity by itself do not promote holiness and virtue if the lead to, or result from jealously, bitterness, envy and inverted pride.

 

[AServantofGod]

puzzleannie:

it is not so much what you have, (or don’t have) but your attitude toward what you have (or don’t have). Poverty and austerity by itself do not promote holiness and virtue if the lead to, or result from jealously, bitterness, envy and inverted pride.

Beautifully said puzzleannie. However, what about this thought? As long as there somebody who’s in need (& there’s always somebody in need), is it right for me to have more and desire more?

 

[Cockney_Clive]

Puzzleannie has it about right. Austerity is a hard path my friend. Many of us lack the courage to try it and we cling on to our ‘toys’, our possessions, our income and our status. As Christians we might strive to simplify our lives (downsize or whatever) and we ought not to be always desiring after the next gadget, gizmo or ‘must have’ object.But we need to be aware of that sort of austerity which is really about inflicting punishment on ourselves. There is mortification and then there is that mortification of the flesh which comes from self-loathing. Christ never asked us to hate ourselves; he said we must love our neighbour as ourself

We also need to balance our desires to live a more Christ-Centred life, which may involve austerity, with our committments and love for those we might live with (spouse, children, family).