Simplicity In the Wilderness – Matthew 6:25-33
In the West, we have come to believe that stuff can satisfy our deepest longings–we would never admit that, but our closets, amazon purchases, and bank account betray us. The problem isn’t just stuff; it is the place that stuff occupies in our heart. Jesus’ alternative; “seek first the Kingdom.'“
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” – Luke 12:33
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”– Matthew 19:24
American Gospel: the more we have the happier we will be, more stuff is what we need.
The French sociologist Jean Baudrillard argues that atheism hasn’t replaced Christianity, shopping has.
“When we lose our divine center- our source of security- we have an insane attachment to things.” –Soren Kierkegaard
The problem isn’t just stuff. It’s also the place that stuff occupies in our heart.
Problem 1: Inward Stuff
“No servant can serve two masters… You cannot love God and love money.” – Luke 16:13
“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God…But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort” – Luke 6:20,24
“where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21
Problem 2: Outward Stuff
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” – Luke 12:33
“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:25-33
Soren Kierkegaard reflects on how we are to pursue the kingdom of God in light of this passage saying- Should a person get a suitable job in order to exert a virtuous influence? His answer: no, we must first seek God’s kingdom. Then should we give away all our money to feed the poor? Again the answer: no, we must first seek God’s kingdom. Well, then perhaps we are to go out and preach this truth to the world that people are to seek first God’s kingdom? Once again the answer is a resounding: no, we are first to seek the kingdom of God. “Then in a certain sense it is nothing I shall do. Yes, certainly, in a certain sense it is nothing, become nothing before God, learn to keep silent; in this silence is the beginning, which is, first to seek God’s Kingdom.” – Soren Kierkegaard
One Solution: Seek FIRST the kingdom of God.
“[Christian simplicity] is an inward reality that can be seen in an outward lifestyle or choosing to leverage time, money, talents and possessions toward what matters most.”– Richard Foster & Mark Scandrette
Further Resources:
Celebration of Disciplines by Richard Foster
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
4 Simplicity practices:
Think before you buy
Get into the habit of giving things away
Live by a budget
Cultivate a deep appreciation for the little things.
“In everything, love simplicity.” – Saint Francis de Sales
