The Simple Life
Sermon for 2/6/2005
Matthew 6:25-33
Introduction:
The Simple Life is a totally unscripted series starring spoiled socialites, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie! During the show’s first season, Paris and Nicole got a reality check when they learned what it was really like to live among the middle-class as they moved from their posh Beverly Hills pads to the small town of Altus, Arkansas (population 817) for a one-month stay. Paris and Nicole were horribly inept at their jobs, which were the first they had ever had-including gigs at a dairy farm and a fast-food joint. But pretty soon they were up to their old tricks, picking up guys and causing mischief along the way, all in an effort to spice up the lives of their small town family and to win the hearts of the town’s simple, kind-hearted residents. In the end, the girls survived the challenge, and most certainly served to prove that you can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl!
WBTU:
A. City Slickers with Billy Crystal. Mitch, played by Billy Crystal and his two friends, Ed and Phil, go to a dude ranch for a vacation. The old cowboy Curley in the movie says, “"Nothin’ like bringin ’ in a herd," “You city folk -you worry too much. You spend about 50 weeks a year gettin’ knots in your rope, and think 2 weeks up here will untie ’em."
B. If we could just get back to those good old days, the days of the pioneers, the days before cities, the days before e-mail, the days when everyone lived in a mud hut and lived like African Bushmen.
C. “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. There is a group of boys that are shipwrecked without any adults and it shows how these boys live and survive. After killing one boy, the ending scene is where the boys are hunting down another boy, Ralph, to sacrifice him to an idol. Thankfully, a boat comes to rescue them and that is the end of the book.
D. (Titus 3:3 NIV) At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:4 NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, (Titus 3:5 NIV) he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
E. Without Jesus Christ, no matter what circumstances one is placed in it will all be the same problems, the same sins and the same misery.
F. Richard Foster in his book “Celebration of Disciple” begins by talking about the inward disciplines of a Christian: meditation, prayer, fasting, and study. We have to start there. Then he begins to talk about the outward disciplines and the first outward discipline for a Christian that he discusses is simplicity.
G. He talks about how there are two extremes when it comes to simplicity. On one hand we have the people who believe that simplicity is not important. On the other hand, we have the people who believe that simplicity is the mark of a good Christian. Usually the marks they use to measure this simplicity are not godly. If we wear this kind of clothes or buy that kind of house or eat this kind of food or drive this kind of car, then we are living simply or not living simply. Abuses on both sides.
H. We need to get back to the teachings of Jesus. Read Matthew 6:25-33.
I. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing for a Christian is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of Christ’s Kingdom. Nothing comes before the Kingdom of God, including the desire for a simple lifestyle.
J. Simplicity itself becomes idolatry when it becomes the main thing over seeking the kingdom. Focusing upon the Kingdom produces an inward character that makes simplicity possible. Nothing else can be central. The desire to get out of the rat race cannot be central, the injustices of the distribution of the world’s wealth cannot be central, the concern for the environment cannot be central. Seeking God’s Kingdom and seeking after Christ is the main thing.
K. When we look at the teachings of Jesus here we see a wonderful description of how to be free from anxiety. By seeking after Christ and his kingdom, we are free from the concern of possessions.
L. Neither the greedy nor the miserly know this freedom. It has nothing to do with abundance of possessions or their lack. It is an inward spirit of trust. The fact that a person is living without things is no guarantee that he or she is living in simplicity. Paul taught us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and I have discovered that often those who have it the least love it the most. It is possible for a person to be forced into a life style of simplicity and to be filled with anxiety. Conversely, wealth does not bring freedom from anxiety. Sometimes it makes our anxiety worse.
M. Do you want to be free from anxiety? It is characterized by three inner attitudes. Richard Foster also calls these three the inward realities of simplicity.
Thesis: If what we have received as a gift, and if what we have is cared for by God, and if what we have is available to others, then we will be free from anxiety.
For instances:
1. What we have received is a gift from God.
A. We work but we know that it is not our work that gives us what we have.
B. Bart Simpson was asked to say the blessing. He basically said that why should we thank God, we earned the money to go out and buy this food, so why should we say thanks?
C. The problem comes when we lose our job, then we do not deserve to eat. With this kind of an attitude those who do not have jobs should be left to starve. What happens if your employer runs out of money? You earned the money but now you don’t have it.
D. We work but we know that it is not our work that gives us what we have. (Deu 8:17 NIV) You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."(Deu 8:18 NIV) But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
E. Now we need to do things that are productive. The Lord made us to work. Paul said that those who do not work shall not eat. However, what about those people who want to work but are unable because of health or employment conditions.
F. WE live by grace even when it comes to “daily bread.” Give us this day our daily bread. Jesus didn’t deserve to be fed. He didn’t work.
G. Everything we get is a gift from God. What do we deserve?
H. When the Israelites were in the desert did they deserve to eat manna and drink water? Did the Israelites deserve the land of Canaan? The husband and wife, our children, a car, our houses, to live in the US, (Psa 145:15 NIV) The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.(Psa 145:16 NIV) You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
I. We are dependent upon God for the simplest elements of life: air, water, sun. What we have is not the result of our labor, but of the gracious care of God.
I. (Eccl 3:13 NIV) That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.
J. When we are tempted to think that what we own is the result of our personal efforts, it takes only a little drought or a small accident to show us once again how utterly dependent we are for everything. WE are like babies.
J. (Eph 2:8 NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
2. It is God’s business, not ours, to care for what we have.
A. God is able to protect what we possess. WE can trust him.
B. Does that mean that we should never take the keys out of the car or lock the door? Of course not. We need to know that the lock on the door is not what protects the house. It is only good stewardship to take precautions and to do general maintenance on the gifts God gives, but if we believe that this protects us and our goods, we will be riddled with anxiety.
C. Everything is subject to decay. “Where moth and rust destroy”
D. Everything is subject to theft or vandalism. Where thieves break in and steal
E. When Crystal and I were considering buying a house, my father in law was a real estate agent. Many times he basically said, “To buy a house is the best financial decision that you can make. It always goes up in value.” Now to buy a house is the best financial decision to make is good advice, but to say that it always goes up in value. What about if the neighborhood goes down, what about if vandals come through and tear it up and the insurance company goes under so they will not cover it, what about if it is destroyed by fire, but about if we all get sick and we are not able to do general upkeep so over time the house decays. I’ll be there, what if you die.
F. WE need to trust that God will take care of the stuff that he has given. If he doesn’t we need to have the attitude of Job: (Job 1:21 NIV) and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."(Job 1:22 NIV) In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
G. The same thing applies to our reputation. Our good name comes from the Lord. No goodness of our own. If our reputation is taken away, at least we have a good name from the Lord.
H. The same thing applies to our employment. (Eccl 5:19 NIV) Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.(Eccl 5:20 NIV) He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
3. What we have is available to others
A. If the stuff that God has given to us is not available to the community when it is clearly right and good, then we are stealing from God and from others.
B. The reason we find such an idea so difficult is our fear of the future. We cling to our possessions rather than sharing them because we are anxious about tomorrow.
C. (Luke 12:15 NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:16 NIV) And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.(Luke 12:17 NIV) He thought to himself, ’What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’(Luke 12:18 NIV) "Then he said, ’This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.(Luke 12:19 NIV) And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’(Luke 12:20 NIV) "But God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(Luke 12:21 NIV) "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
D. My toys and I will not share them.
E. (Acts 4:32 NIV) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
F. (1 John 3:17 NIV) If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
G. Now ordinary common sense will define the limits of sharing and save us from foolishness.
H. (Prov 3:27 NIV) Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (Prov 3:28 NIV) Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you.
Conclusion:
Have you seen the bumper sticker "He who dies with the most toys wins." I saw one that said, "He who dies with the most toys still dies."
(Rom 6:23 NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
