Everyone is seeking simple.
We want simple meals. We want simple home decor ideas. We turn off the cable and land lines to simplify our monthly bills. We limit the family’s extracurricular activities in an effort to simplify our calendars.
We cut back.
We say, “no.”
We live with little.
Yet, if we are honest, nothing about life seems simple. What are we doing wrong?
Here’s the thing. Nothing about life is simple. It’s dang hard for everybody. Families are complicated. Ministry is messy. Parenting is exhausting. Loving others well can make a body weary. There is loss and heartache and brokenness everywhere. The fact is that God never offered us a simple life. He never really even suggested that we pursue it.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…” – Mark 16:15
Go to the whole world. Share the gospel with all of creation. That is not exactly a call to live the simple life.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. – James 1:27
Look after orphans. Take care of widows. Keep yourself from being stained by this world. There’s nothing simple about those instructions. They are pretty clear, but certainly not simple.
When life gets a little messy, that’s when we find ourselves attempting to simplify. People become a little too much work. The drama gets a little too much and, suddenly, it’s, “Katy, bar the door,” and I’ll just be here in the comfort of my living room watching public television if anyone needs me.
God said, “Go.”
Paul said, “Expect some pain.”
Jesus said, “They didn’t like me and they won’t you.”
How’s that for simple?
Don’t seek simple. Seek Jesus.
I agree and disagree. Living more simply these last 3 years has allowed us to pay for college. I read a book before my son entered college and it was basically about living much more simply to be debt free. It has worked. I agree, ministry is messy and life can be hard and yes, Jesus is who we seek. We should never simplify by giving up and leaving people on the other side of the door and we should “Go”. But I don’t need new outfits and shoes every month to go. I don’t think the people really care 😉 And seeking Jesus while being debt free is wonderful! This is probably not what you were eluding to, but when I hear living simply, this is what I think of. I guess my idea of simplifying is not needing all the new things that come out. And simplifying to me means we don’t have to be involved in everything. I think if we seek Jesus, He will direct our paths. Not everything in life is simple, but THAT one is! 😉 OK, you may think I’m crazy now, I hope not! This may have not even made any sense. I guess I could have given a more simple comment 😉 I am looking forward to meeting you at the end of the month at LIFT. God bless you Stacy!
LOL, Ok, once my comment came up, I see all the silly winky faces and it looks stupid. I don’t really talk, winking all the time.
nice – said so well and it is soooo true! I have a basket in my kitchen filled with potatoes and it says in big block letters – SIMPLIFY – I have tried — but I never have obtained it. My post today on my blog site was ironically related to yours – with a spin in a different direction but toward the same goal – check it out : ) http://alwaysasongofhope.com/2014/01/15/im-outta-here/