WISDOM OF SIMPLICITY (1)

“The LORD preserves the SIMPLE; I was brought low, and He saved me” – Psalm 116:6

GOD’S WORD makes strong allusions to the WISDOM of SIMPLICITY: “The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me” (2 Chr.27:6). For the Lord to preserve the simple implies that God favours the simple. Simplicity is a worthy virtue in God’s sight. God is not complicated and He does not unnecessarily complicate the lives of His children. Indeed, scriptures endorse the deep value and benefits of simple living. Paul counselled on simplicity: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1Tim.6:6-8). We can learn to live light!

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Exemplar of the Wisdom of Simplicity. He embodied a life of compassionate simplicity. He taught by word and deed that we should not make the acquisition of material possessions our primary aim; instead, we should develop the capacity to love and serve God and humanity, and find a balance between the material and spiritual sides of life: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt.6:19-21).

Even the Lord’s lifestyle was simple: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Mt.8:20b). When the disciples asked Him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, He recommended the simplicity of a child as the model (Mt.18: 1-5). God’s commandments are not complex: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1Jh.5:2-3). God’s expectations are not complicated: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic.6:8).

Paul also testified of his Simplicity and Sincerity: “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in SIMPLICITY and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you” (2Cor.1:12). Again He cautioned: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ” (2Cor.11:3). The discipline of simplicity is to intentionally shed carnal entanglements and worldly weights that keep us from fully experiencing the life God desires for us. Let’s ponder on few pertinent questions:

What in this life is encumbering me and keeping me from God? What are the things holding me back? Am I focused on accumulating ephemeral things? Do I need to declutter my desk, house, or schedule? Do I need to cut back on my shopping habit? Am I taking on too much? Am I running too fast, always busy? How can I slow down? Where do I need to say ‘no’ to simplify life? Am I allowing my thoughts and conduct to become overly complicated? Am I addicted to my smartphone, the internet, or my work? How can I unplug and put more focus on the real people in my life? Do I need to scale back on noisy celebrations?

The Discipline of Simplicity is an inward reality that displays an outward lifestyle of calm, peace, and poise. It’s not just about giving away all that we have, but putting everything in the right perspective. Simplicity is letting go in order to make more room in our lives for God; creating margin and space in our lives to breathe more freely having been loosed from the chains of the world. The simple life is the liberated life.