A Simple Kind of Man

Since I started my Masters of Religious Studies in Missional Leadership,  I have been working with my cohort on a Rule of Life.  We have committed to hospitality, prayer, the reading of scripture, being agents of peace and to simplicity.  Though I have struggled in ways with all of these spiritual disciplines, I think I have struggled more with the concept of simplicity than the rest.  Our culture is in direct opposition to the idea of simplicity.  It's all about getting more, buying the newest, saving for the future and the American dream.  When you are taught by society and cultures that having the best, the most and the newest is the greatest sign of success you have to be very intentional to reverse that idea.

Luke 12-22-34

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[a]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In reading this scripture over the last two weeks there have been a few verses that have suddenly jumped out and have helped me in a new way.  First, verse 24 says, "consider the ravens" and verse 27 says "consider the wild flowers".  In this busy world do we take the time to consider anything anymore?  Here we see two examples found in nature which would require getting out of the busy hustle and bustle of our daily existence but I suggest that there is much to "consider" no matter where we are planted.  There is something miraculous that happens as we observe God's creation.  As we take the time to look upon creation without saying a word.  It is in those moments, where we eliminate the distractions and focus only on divine distraction, that we can hear the voice of God.  He's been speaking all along but it is in the quiet of divine distraction that we can hear His voice.

I am being led to "eliminate the "storeroom and barns" so that I can truly be fed by God.  To stop the worldly "labor and spin" so that I can be"dressed in splendor", divine splendor.  Kierkegaard talks about the beauty of being human in his Spiritual Writings.  Part of the beauty of being created in the image of God is that we have the ability to think in concepts of future. This blessing has the ability to lead us to anxiety if we haven't intentionally removed the distractions, if we haven't put down our perceived worldly needs and placed them in the hands of God.  Because we have the ability to wrestle with concepts of the not yet, when we give those things to God we reveal His glory.  To know we may suffer, to know we may struggle to meet our needs, to know we will toil in the field and to still say "God is good", is all the more glorifying.  

³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  I believe a piece of that kingdom is simplicity.  To not live into simplicity is to say what the kingdom of God has to offer is lesser.  As we usher in the kingdom as participants with God by the power of His Spirit, through simple living, we take away the attention from our own clothed splendor and point to something much more glorious.