The simple life

Hi how are you today? I am currently on holidays and having a great rest. That is the reason this post is late this week. How was your week?

As I have travelled in the last week in a country that is pretty laid back, the question rose- what is a simple life and should we all be pursuing it? I am sure God never meant us to live stressed and busy all the time. So let’s look at some of what the Bible says about it.

The first clue we have spoken about before, and it is found in Genesis 2. This is the foundational formula for our life. Genesis 1 is creation and at the start of Genesis 2:2-4 in the Message Bible, it states:

⁴By the seventh day
    God had finished his work.
On the seventh day
    he rested from all his work.
God blessed the seventh day.
    He made it a Holy Day
Because on that day he rested from his work,
    all the creating God had done.

This is the story of how it all started,
    of Heaven and Earth when they were created.

The first clue on living a simple life is work six days and rest on the seventh. God expects us to be fruitful in our work but not lazy. Then He expects us to take a rest day.

The next lot of clues are found in Matthew 6.

This chapter is part of Jesus talking in what is known as the sermon on the mount teachings. In this chapter, Jesus teaches us about how to pray or talk to God simply and gives us an example prayer.

That prayer is broken up into a number of points. They are:

1. Worship God
2. Gods will to be done on earth as it is in heaven
3. Meet all my needs
4. Forgive others and be forgiven by God
5. Keep us safe
6. Worship God

This is living the simple life- loving God and loving others and relying on God fully in our lives.

The third clue is further down in Matthew 6 when Jesus tells us not to worry or stress.

I love what verse 34 states in the Message Bible.

³⁴ “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

It basically means focus on today – live in today. A simple life requires that we live in the here and now- not worrying about tomorrow but being grateful for today.

The last clue for todays post, although I am sure there are many others is found in verses 19 to 21 in the Message Bible and states:

^19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Basically don’t hoard things but declutter. It has been proven that having too many things around us cause us stress and anxiety.

To live the simple life, have what you need and bless others with the rest. We can’t take things with us when we go to heaven, only people. So let’s use our time wisely for people.

A simple life does not necessarily mean a frugal life as if we tithe and give offerings, God pours out abundant blessings on us. A simple life means a stress free life. One where we are free to obey God, use our giftings and serve Jesus where and when He needs us.

I pray that you will take something away from this. Pray and ask God what He wants you to do to live a simple life. I know it will bless you.

Have a great week and keep living the life God intended for you.

Karen