Simplicity.

Biblically speaking, simplicity is a good thing. In 2 Corinthians 1:12 Paul writes: “we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God…”

Acting with simplicity involves pure motives. It involves honesty, being down-to-earth, and not buying into the extravagance, show and competition of the world.

It’s a breath of fresh air in a time of one-upmanship, greed, pride, extravagance, deception and manipulation.

The peaceful beauty of simplicity stands in contrast to the anxious sweat of complexity.

But for this to happen on the outside we need to be aware of what’s happening on the inside. Richard Foster writes: “simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style.”* We can’t fake it. Well, we certainly can’t fake it for long. We need to be internally deliberate. 

Some people call this “heart work.” It’s working on your heart and mind. It’s asking yourself questions like these:

-Do I get my sense of identity and worth from God, or from what other people say (or don’t say)?
-Do I trust that God will provide for me, or do I need to pad my life with other things to make up for what he won’t give me?
-Do I rest in his plan, or do I engage in non-stop scurrying because I can only count on myself to make things happen?
-Do I reflect and seek God’s grace and truth, or am I always working the angles and pushing forward a selfish agenda?

Imagine Jesus describing you with Paul’s words—that you behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity!

It can be hard to look within. We find things we don’t like. Ugly things. But there are glorious things too. And our God has a way of turning hurts, distrust and bad choices into jewels for his kingdom.

The peaceful beauty of simplicity stands in contrast to the anxious sweat of complexity.

Be not afraid to work on the heart.

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Notes and extra content:

-*Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper & Row, 1978), 69.
-“Should the Sabbath be on Saturday or Sunday for Christians?” Click here, or listen at ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)
-Bible quotes are from the NIV.