our Values: Simplicity
How would you respond if someone told you, “Sell all your stuff, terminate your apartment lease, hand in your resignation at work, and start walking around the countryside with me”?
You would probably say no and think they were crazy, right?
Or could that radical invitation of simplicity give you greater freedom and peace?
We live in a busy society that feels overwhelming. It doesn’t matter if you are a student, CEO, nurse, engineer or a stay at home parent, there are always things to do, stuff to buy, and places to be. Even when we sit still, we usually fill that time scrolling through social media or streaming the latest online video.
We fill our schedules with busyness. We feel hurried and stressed. We own things in abundance and yet we still want more. We do not feel at peace.
Jesus also had a busy schedule. He traveled from town to town, visited synagogues, preached all day long, healed the sick, conversed with his friends and enemies, all while crowds followed him wanting more. And yet, Jesus never seemed stressed. Instead he radiated peace. He did not hurry, but made time for people. He lived in contentment with basic clothing, food and lodging.
Jesus lived in simplicity.
And he invited others to do the same!
Consider this interaction between Jesus and a young man (picture a stylish and successful guy who works at a start-up in Berlin as you read):
“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’
And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.’ Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, 'One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property” (Mark 10:17-22, NLT).
Jesus lovingly challenged the man to identify which things in his life controlled him, so he could experience a life of greater freedom, meaning, and peace. Jesus invites us to re-prioritize our time, resources, and relationships too.
This call to live in simplicity may involve reducing our commitments, giving away things we do not actually need, and changing our spending habits, but it is not a call to lack. Living with our priorities centered on Jesus means living a life of abundance (see his promise to us in John 10:10).
The journey of simplicity with Jesus is a journey of abundance!
As Community Church we value simplicity. We want our activities and even the way we communicate to be simple and clear because life on this earth is complicated and confusing enough. The good news about Jesus is simple, but not always easy. Therefore, we invite you to join us as we walk with Jesus together. If you want to learn more about Jesus or how to walk with him in simplicity please connect with us.
We also recommend Richard Foster’s chapter on simplicity in Celebration of Discipline
and John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry for more input on this topic.