· Have you ever been to an airport and seen the people’s suitcases? (some over 100 lbs!)
· Have you ever helped someone move and wonder why they have certain things?
· Maybe you’ve wondered why you have certain things? (Magazines, school papers, etc.)
People are burdened now more than ever: mentally, physically (material things), and spiritually (anger, grudges, bitterness, sin, guilt, etc.)
[Hebrews 12:1-2] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. (every weight…not just sin can weigh us down from serving God more effectively.) And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. (is your load light enough to run with?) {2} We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, (are our eyes on Jesus?) on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.
STORY: On April 14, 1912, 10:00 p.m. the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later sank. One woman in a life boat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. In her room were her treasures waiting to be taken, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but in the face of death, values are seen more clearly.
A man died and went to heaven, and at the pearly gates he asked St. Peter if he could bring something into heaven. Normally this wouldn’t be allowed but St. Peter felt nice today, so he let the man return to earth. The man sold everything that he had and bought gold and filled a suitcase and went back to heaven. When he got to Heaven St. Peter was very curious what the man would value so much to return to earth to get. So the man opened the suitcase to reveal sparkling gold. St. Peter asked him why he brought concrete!
OBJECT LESSON: (Have a backpack filled with many things and things hanging off of it.) Life is kind of like backpacking in a tunnel. Imagine for a moment that I was backpacking in a tunnel, and the further I went the smaller the tunnel became. Eventually these (skis or whatever) would jam against the wall. I would have a decision to make, either stop and don’t go anymore, or take the skis off. In our Christian life sometimes things hold us back from getting closer to God, and they may be good things! We have a choice to make, are we going to stop, or are we going to cast those things off?
Jesus Lived Simply
Talk about how Jesus’ life was simple. Born in a stable, few possessions, parents weren’t royalty.
[Luke 9:57-58] As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go." {58} But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head." (Jesus didn’t have a home. It would seem that Jesus being God’s Son would have a home – like maybe a castle! But He didn’t; yet God still provided for him in every way.)
[John 19:23-24] When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. {24} So they said, "Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe." (Jesus only had a few clothes.)
[Luke 9:23-25] (International Children’s Bible for simplicity) Jesus went on to say to all of them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say ’no’ to the things he wants (Another translation says he “must put aside his selfish ambition). (Do we say “no” to the things that we want?) Every day he must be willing even to die on a cross, and he must follow me. {24} Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. And whoever gives his life for me will save it. {25} It is worth nothing for a man to have the whole world, if he himself is destroyed or lost. (Is it worth it to have everything that we could ever want, but not have done everything we could for God’s Kingdom?)
[Matthew 11:28-30] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."
The yoke was never made to balance. Father’s yokes were always made heavier on one side than the other. Then, you see, we would put a weak bull in alongside a strong bull; the light end would come on the weak ox, the heavier end on the stronger one. That’s why the yoke is easy and the burden is light, because the Lord’s yoke is made after the same pattern, and the heavy end is upon His shoulder."
In 1876 the British government passed the Merchant Shipping Act. This law required each ship to bear a mark on it’s bow to indicate when a vessel had received that maximum amount of cargo permitted for safe voyage. And that particular mark on each boat was called the Plimsel Line, named after the author of the bill in the House of Parliament in England. You see, what was happening among the ship owners in England, there were greedy grasping men, and they would fill their vessels to the full with all their full compliment of crew, etc., and send them out to sea, knowing jolly well they would probably never return, they would sink. And then they could go to the insurance office, weep, weep, ’Oh I’m sorry, I just lost my vessel and all the men’, and all the money would come back, and this is how they made big bucks. And Plimsel was in the House of Parliament, he considered this unacceptable, and the law was introduced that from now on all vessels going to sea must have that line around them called the Plimsel line. And if when the cargo was loaded, etc., if the line was below the water, they had to unload the cargo until the line was above the water. And of course that saved thousands and thousands of captains and officers, of seamen etc., etc., not to mention all the cargo. And that’s a law even here in the United States to this day. And so as long as the vessel had its Plimsel line above the water it’s OK. Now you know, in a way, when you think about it, God says that he’ll never allow us to be tested above and beyond what we can bear. And so God has a Plimsel line, if you like, with us. Sometimes we think ’God, are you looking carefully at that Plimsel line? I think it’s under water! I think it’s about 10 feet underwater!’
10 Ways To Simplify Your Life
1. Make wise purchases.
a. Is it useful or just for status?
[Ecclesiastes 6:9] Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. (Do you enjoy the things that you have or do you need something else once the “new” wears off.)
[Luke 12:15-21] Then he said, "Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." (Do you want “Real Life?” He who dies with the most toys still dies…) {16} And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. {17} In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. {18} So he said, ’I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. (This guy didn’t want to simplify.) Then I’ll have room enough to store everything. {19} And I’ll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ {20} "But God said to him, ’You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’ {21} "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." (Which is more important to you?)
“He who covets is always poor.”
[Exodus 20:17] "Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns." (Is there anything that you covet?)
b. Is it something that will last?
Wise man builds his house upon the rocks.
c. Is it worth the investment?
[Matthew 6:19-21] "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. {20} Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. {21} Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (Where is your treasure? What do you think about during the day?) IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT? – IN LIGHT OF THIS SCRIPTURE, OUR POSESSIONS WILL NOT LAST.
2. Don’t let things control you.
According to Discipleship Journal readers ranked materialism as the greatest spiritual challenge to them.
[Philippians 4:11-12] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. (How much do you need to get along happily? How much do you have?) {12} I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
a. Obvious things: drugs, alcohol, tobacco.
[Romans 6:12] Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.
b. Not obvious things: TV, money, food, music, technology, internet.
A reporter asked a man on his ninety-fifth birthday, "To what do you credit your long life?" The old timer responded, "Well, I’m not sure yet. My lawyer’s still negotiating with two breakfast cereal companies."
[Ecclesiastes 5:10] Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!
3. Get rid of clutter.
a. Give things away regularly.
[Luke 12:33-34] "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe--no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. {34} Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (We just heard this before. Where is your heart and thought?) CLUTTER WILL KEEP YOU BUSY!
VIDEO from "Book of Matthew" of Matthew 19:16-22. "Rich Young Ruler"
b. Force yourself to decide what to do with things.
4. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
(God owns everything anyway!)
[Acts 2:44-45] And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. {45} They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.
a. Get a library card & donate your books.
b. Use public parks and etc.
c. Rent things instead of buying.
5. Don’t hold onto sin
a. Grudges
b. Anger
c. Bitterness
d. Etc.
[Hebrews 12:1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
6. Enjoy God’s Creation.
[Psalms 19:1] The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.
[Psalms 8:3-4] When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-- the moon and the stars you have set in place-- {4} what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?
a. Take hikes.
[Luke 6:12] One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.
b. Have picnics.
7. Get out of debt.
a. 80% of our day is spent in thinking about money.
b. Finances is the number one killer of marriages.
c. To get out of debt, you may need to make sacrifices.
[Romans 13:8] Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law.
8. Talk simply.
[Proverbs 10:19-20] Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow! {20} The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
a. Let your yes be yes.
[Matthew 5:37] Just say a simple, ’Yes, I will,’ or ’No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
b. Don’t try to impress with your words.
[Matthew 6:7] "When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again.
When a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, simply drop it.
c. Talk gently.
[Proverbs 12:18] Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
There was no gymnasium on our seminary campus, so we played basketball in a nearby public school. The janitor, an old black man with white hair, would wait patiently until the seminarians had finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible.
One day I went up to him and inquired, "What are you reading?"
The man did not simply reply, "The Bible." Instead he answered, "The Book of Revelation."
With a bit of surprise, I asked, "The Book of Revelation? Do you understand it?"
"Oh yes," the man assured me. "I understand it."
"You understand the Book of Revelation! What does it mean?"
Very quietly that old janitor answered, "It means that Jesus is gonna win."
9. Create community. (Join a small group.)
a. Have potluck dinners.
[Acts 2:45-47] They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. {46} They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity-- {47} all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
b. Help those in need.
10. Have simple faith
[Philippians 3:6-9] Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault. {7} I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. {8} Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ {9} and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
a. Don’t make it complicated.
[Matthew 22:37-40] Jesus replied, "’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ {38} This is the first and greatest commandment. {39} A second is equally important: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ {40} All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
b. Don’t let anything distract you
[Luke 9:62] But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."
[Philippians 3:13-14] No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, {14} I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
Maybe you need to lighten your burdens.
[Romans 6:23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
