Simplicity: William Law on Christian Perfection Through Simple Living

William Law (d. 1761) wrote "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," one of the most influential books on practical Christian living. He argued that many Christians live extravagantly while claiming devotion: "If you were to see a man that had a large family and a small income, and yet this man should lay out his money upon shows and diversions, you would say that he was mad. But yet this is the way of the world."

Law challenged his readers to apply the same rationality to spiritual life that they apply to financial planning. If heaven is our true home, why do we invest so heavily in temporary comfort? "If we are to follow Christ, it must be in our common way of spending every day." Law's vision of simplicity was not monastic withdrawal but ordinary life lived with extraordinary intentionality.

Practical application: Review your discretionary spending for the past month. Identify one category of spending that could be redirected toward generosity or reduced without genuine hardship. Law teaches that simplicity is not a dramatic renunciation but a steady, daily choice to align spending with values.