“Of all the disciplines simplicity is the most visible and therefore the most open to corruption” (Foster, 1978; 85). Jesus speaks often about simplicity, but it’s one of those things that easily discounted or should I say conveniently passes over the radar of many Christian’s in America. One of the major reasons could be that our entire societal structure is built on capitalism and the need to achieve an affluent life-style—the American Dream. But, on the other side of that spectrum there is the temptation to gravitate toward legalism. Foster states and I think correctly so, “In the earnest attempt to give concrete expression to Jesus’ economic teaching, it is easy to mistake our particular expression of the teaching for the teaching itself” (Foster, 1978; 85).
I have felt the tension from both ends of the spectrum mentioned above. First from an affluent life-style perspective: A little over ten years ago I had my own business and my wife had a fulltime job as well. We were making a fair amount of money, we were able to build a nice house, and were not in want of to many things. It was very interesting though; even though we had a comfortable life and a lot of nice stuff it didn’t bring any more satisfaction to either of our lives. The “American Dream” was not all that it was hyped up to be.
Now from the perspective of poverty: On the other side of that spectrum I feel and hear others wrestle with the tension of wealth and affluence in the context of foreign missions. When I lead a group of students to the Dominican Republic (DR) and we see the great divide between the few who have much and the majority who have almost nothing. To see the wealthy control the government and the resources and continue to get richer and richer on the backs and at the expense of the poor. This stark reality creates a lot of anger with many in the group regarding systems in the DR and the United States (US). Much of the tension comes from the fact that we have so much in the US in comparison to most of the world.
So how do we live a life of simplicity that’s faithful to our calling as followers of Christ?
Listen to these words of Jesus. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:25-33 NIV).
The main point here that Jesus is making regarding simplicity is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then everything will fall into its proper place. Don’t let the desire for simplicity become idolatry and take precedence over the kingdom of God. It has a proper place.
Now we can deal with the issues mentioned above. I feel the tension of having a business and making a lot of money. Should I sell it all and down size my life? No, I must first seek God’s kingdom and will. I see the affects of poverty in the DR and realize how much I have. Should I sell all that I have and give it to the poor? No, seek first God’s kingdom.
My desires cannot be the main issue no matter how I wrestle with simplicity. Seeking first God’s kingdom puts the focus and perspective where it should be—on him and his will.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
"What Matters?"
The testimony of simplicity is like a bell that calls us to awareness of the Center. It challenges us to ask, "What matters?" It reminds us that much of what worries us and stresses us is not all that important. It asks us to recognize the burdens we carry needlessly and lay them down: our anxiety about our appearance, our struggle to afford what we do not need, comparisons between our lifestyle and the lifestyles of others, squabbles born of tension and stress, worries that leave us exhausted and unable to find time for what matters in our lives.
I think Jesus understood “what matters” very well. In Mark’s gospel right from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he makes it a point to withdraw and pray.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:35-39 NIV
Already Jesus’ popularity had grown and people were looking for him, trying to place constraints on his time. I mean think about Jesus schedule each day—teaching, healing, speaking, dinner engagements, traveling, driving out demons.
Over and over Jesus is pressed with the business of life just as we are in many ways. The things that tend to draw our attention way from the things that really “matter.” I know in my life when the business of life presses in on me the thing that seems to quickly fanish is my connection to God through daily prayer. And yet this is the thing that kept Jesus resolute on his mission and purpose, always aligning his will to the Fathers through prayer. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 NIV
Is this one of the many testimonies of simplicity that Jesus’ life teaches us? To always hear the bell that brings our awareness back the Center—to the Father and what really matters.
• What do you need to lay at the feet of the Father?
• At the end of the day, what truly matters to you?
I think Jesus understood “what matters” very well. In Mark’s gospel right from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he makes it a point to withdraw and pray.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:35-39 NIV
Already Jesus’ popularity had grown and people were looking for him, trying to place constraints on his time. I mean think about Jesus schedule each day—teaching, healing, speaking, dinner engagements, traveling, driving out demons.
Over and over Jesus is pressed with the business of life just as we are in many ways. The things that tend to draw our attention way from the things that really “matter.” I know in my life when the business of life presses in on me the thing that seems to quickly fanish is my connection to God through daily prayer. And yet this is the thing that kept Jesus resolute on his mission and purpose, always aligning his will to the Fathers through prayer. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 NIV
Is this one of the many testimonies of simplicity that Jesus’ life teaches us? To always hear the bell that brings our awareness back the Center—to the Father and what really matters.
• What do you need to lay at the feet of the Father?
• At the end of the day, what truly matters to you?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Simplicity? Who has time for that?
Do you ever get those feelings on occasion where you just feel overwhelmed and you have to sigh? I always wonder if people throughout history have felt overwhelmed by the pace of life or that I'm the only one?
Recently, I was back East taking some classes. During the day I was very busy listening to lectures and preparing presentations for the following day. But each evening after completing my studies I had a fair amount of time to just sit and veg-out all by myself. It was very odd at first, but I felt like I couldn't relax. Surely there must be something I needed to do, some task that needed my attention, or a child that needed to be picked up or dropped off. I'm not kidding, I felt a sense of anxiety instead of being able to enjoy the silence and a time of rest.
This is also the time I realized I had a problem. I had become addicted to my pace of life, control, and very little time or space left for God. The following is daily reflection and the next couple of post a working through this idea of simplicity.
How are we to honor the testimony of simplicity in our modern world? To many of us, our culture seems so 'busy' and so complex, so full of disturbing news and distractions, that we are sometimes overwhelmed. Our time is often overcommitted, and our wants are manipulated to make us desire what we do not need. Our consumption of goods as a nation is out of control. In our world, the word 'simplicity' may be quickly followed by guilt and then by a sense of frustration, or even despair. We need to think of simplicity not as an impossible demand, but an invitation to a more peaceful and fulfilling Spirit-led life.
Simplicity flows from a well-ordered life. It is less a matter of doing without, than a spiritual quality that simplifies our lives by putting first things first. A simple way of life, freely chosen, is a source of strength, joy and comfort.
The testimony of simplicity is like a bell that calls us to awareness of the Center. It challenges us to ask, "What matters?" It reminds us that much of what worries us and stresses us is not all that important. It asks us to recognize the burdens we carry needlessly and lay them down: our anxiety about our appearance, our struggle to afford what we do not need, comparisons between our lifestyle and the lifestyles of others, squabbles born of tension and stress, worries that leave us exhausted and unable to find time for what matters in our lives.
Simplicity is not about an antique form of dress or speech. It is a reminder that today, as surely as hundreds of years ago, we can choose to allow God to order our lives. It asks us to set aside time for prayer and spiritual discipline that open us to wisdom and guidance beyond our own. Today, as then, it refers to a life lit from within by the Inward Light, ordered by the Love that nourishes the core, and freed by the Spirit from bondage to the superficial.
• What in my present life most distracts me from God?
• What am I ready to release so that I can give my attention to what matters most?
Source: Baltimore Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice Revision Committee
Recently, I was back East taking some classes. During the day I was very busy listening to lectures and preparing presentations for the following day. But each evening after completing my studies I had a fair amount of time to just sit and veg-out all by myself. It was very odd at first, but I felt like I couldn't relax. Surely there must be something I needed to do, some task that needed my attention, or a child that needed to be picked up or dropped off. I'm not kidding, I felt a sense of anxiety instead of being able to enjoy the silence and a time of rest.
This is also the time I realized I had a problem. I had become addicted to my pace of life, control, and very little time or space left for God. The following is daily reflection and the next couple of post a working through this idea of simplicity.
How are we to honor the testimony of simplicity in our modern world? To many of us, our culture seems so 'busy' and so complex, so full of disturbing news and distractions, that we are sometimes overwhelmed. Our time is often overcommitted, and our wants are manipulated to make us desire what we do not need. Our consumption of goods as a nation is out of control. In our world, the word 'simplicity' may be quickly followed by guilt and then by a sense of frustration, or even despair. We need to think of simplicity not as an impossible demand, but an invitation to a more peaceful and fulfilling Spirit-led life.
Simplicity flows from a well-ordered life. It is less a matter of doing without, than a spiritual quality that simplifies our lives by putting first things first. A simple way of life, freely chosen, is a source of strength, joy and comfort.
The testimony of simplicity is like a bell that calls us to awareness of the Center. It challenges us to ask, "What matters?" It reminds us that much of what worries us and stresses us is not all that important. It asks us to recognize the burdens we carry needlessly and lay them down: our anxiety about our appearance, our struggle to afford what we do not need, comparisons between our lifestyle and the lifestyles of others, squabbles born of tension and stress, worries that leave us exhausted and unable to find time for what matters in our lives.
Simplicity is not about an antique form of dress or speech. It is a reminder that today, as surely as hundreds of years ago, we can choose to allow God to order our lives. It asks us to set aside time for prayer and spiritual discipline that open us to wisdom and guidance beyond our own. Today, as then, it refers to a life lit from within by the Inward Light, ordered by the Love that nourishes the core, and freed by the Spirit from bondage to the superficial.
• What in my present life most distracts me from God?
• What am I ready to release so that I can give my attention to what matters most?
Source: Baltimore Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice Revision Committee
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