Simplicity - What do we know about simplicity? Well, if you are like me, I have to look up a lot of words, then process the meanings, then think about them in relevancy to my life.......the dictionary has become my friend. :)
So this word basically means to be simple, to simplify, to make things easy to understand. I'm all about that because my brain only understands "simple" a lot of the time anyway. In the past two weeks I have managed to have a stick fall on my head and run into a stationary item on a wall. So, if I keep taking hits to my head, simple has to be the way to go.
This discipline is for us to "uncomplicate and untangle my life so I can focus on what really matters. Learning to live simply prepares us for our last breath and gives us freedom to live here and now." (This is quoted from the book I borrowed quite awhile ago). So what is this definition saying? And how does it compare to the dictionary? Let me think about this.
Philippians 4:11-12 - Paul is telling the church of Phillipi that he has learned to be content with little and with much, whatever the circumstances. So, living simply is just that. Being content with what we have at the moment. You never know when it will be taken from you, so to put a lot of effort into owning "things" in this life maybe not worth the effort. I have lived this one out personally in the past few years, so I can relate to this statement.
Matthew 6:19-21 - Jesus tells us Himself NOT to store up treasures here on this earth, but to store treasures in heaven. What this means is we should not get caught up in owning a lot of "things", but to focus on building our "heavenly treasures" instead. Those things are.....making disciples, praying, telling people the gospel, being kind, practicing the "fruits of the Spirit", holding true to the Bible, reading and studying the Word,.....all these things build our heavenly treasures and they are worth so much more than the earthly ones we have. Yes we need a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes to wear, cars to drive.....I'm just saying all the "extra" things we take for granted may not be as necessary as we think they are.
So, how does living simply prepare us for our last breath? Well.....I think of it this way. I am around death more than I like to admit. I've been with people when they take their last breath, and this makes me wonder now what they have in their life that will be passed on to the rest of the family? Do they have any family? How will the family carry on without them? Did they store up treasures in heaven? Or, do they own nothing as maybe they were homeless? This is something to think about now in reading about this discipline. Leaving a legacy for your kids/family is important, but a legacy doesn't have to be in material things. It should be in our character, our well being, our life. This really spoke to me today. Putting things in perspective isn't always easy to handle.....but so worth it when we can do something about it.
This is a good post.
ReplyDeleteI tell people all the time, I am a person of simple needs. I don't need (Things)like a mansion or a yacht. All I need is my wife beside on the patio swing with something cooking on the grill and a cold drink or a hot cup of tea. I tell Karen all the time that God has been so good to us, especially when we have those times. In those moments I am satisfied and it feels good. I work with people that have nicer houses and cars than I do, but they still want more. And they struggle to pay for things they have.
I like how Jesus said about storing treasures in heaven and the way you described those treasures is something I did think of before. For me those are just things I like to do especially praying. Last night I had a guy call in and requested a day off due to a serious illness in the family. As I was taking the information, I asked him if he wanted me to pray for them. His reaction on the phone was one of surprise, but more importantly it was one gratitude... He said yes and thanked me several time. I thought to myself, praying was an easy thing for me to do and I told him so. I never thought of it as storing up treasure though. In that moment I thought of spreading the good news of Jesus and of helping someone that needed it. When the call was done I prayed for the person, for him and for the family. If that's what storing up treasures is than it is a enjoyable, not like those people who are struggling to pay for their house or car. Heck; we don't even have to work for it.
I think about what may last breath will like. I hope it is many years from now but know I have fewer years ahead of me than are behind me. I think about how my brother and sister died and what their last breath was like for them. I know they were both saved, so that is comfort to me. As for me.... I certainly am not looking forward to the sting of death, however death itself does not scare me. I know that I can live forever with the grace of God. Hopefully my kids will see my pleasure in walking with Jesus and they will pick up where I left off. That would be a great legacy for me....
What a powerful story and look how God had you to be the one to handle that call! Sounds like that man encouraged you as mush as you did him.
ReplyDeleteI feel any thing we do on this earth for God is storing a treasure in heaven, Teaching, praying, any act of kindness (not a selfish one).....I can go on and on. I talk to Clyde a lot. He reminded me the other day when I told him of a situation that I was storing a treasure in heaven. I had the same reaction as you. I didn't realize it. And he also reminded me that we are storing these treasures to get crowns that we will lay at Jesus feet. So what we store is ultimately His! Wow.....that's even more amazing. Comes full circle in doing things all for His glory!!
When I was talking to the guy the other night about praying. I could feel the presence of Jesus. I know some people may not believe that, but I know it was him. I have had several more situations where I could feel his presence. One was during the big snow storm. I shared that story with a good friend last week and how God gave me peace. I enjoy those moments. It's like a feeling of peace and calm or comfort. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it is a wonderful feeling. If heaven is anything like that.....wow!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know that I fail Jesus at times and more times than I should, but when I know that I am following his teachings and know that I'm giving God his glory it's almost to much for me to contain. I feel like I am doing what I was created for. I feel satisfied in my walk with God. I truly wish I could show others what that feeling is like. I know if I could that they would also want to glory our God. I know they would feel his love and understand why we were created and how much he showers his blessings on us.
I know I have said this before, but I am so much enjoying this time of my life. God has truly blessed me more than I can say and so much more than I deserve. I/we serve an awesome God!!!