Life Simplification
May 5, 2002
Dear Friends,
Life is so complex and hurried now. We run our lives like a factory floor trying to squeeze more and more production out of it. We don’t take time out for rest and preventive maintenance. Like a machine that is overused and undermaintained on the factory floor, we are in danger of running the “machine” into the ground.
I would offer the following items for consideration in order to simplify your life:
1. Prioritize: Although people will try to convince you that you can do it all, unless you have figured out how to beat the time/space continuum, you cannot do it all. Life is a popourri of choices. The quality of our life is largely based on how we make those decisions. Do things that are important first. The Scripture gives us a little advice in this department – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” If we faithfully follow that advice, a lot of other things will fall into place.
2. Learn to say “no”: People will sell you, guilt you and bug you into biting off more than you can chew. The reward for hard working people is more hard work. The ecclesia is no exception. The apostle Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians that we can best serve God if we do not marry and dedicate our life to His service. However, along with that statement is the implication that those who do have families must take time to be good fathers. mothers, husbands and wives. We also have to factor in our different abilities. If there is a proper distribution of ecclesial labor, it is not only healthy for everyone, a lot more can be accomplished.
3. Plan for “downtime”: From the beginning, the Lord wanted man to rest one day in seven. Although this had a lot of spiritual significance which we do not have time to go into now, the plain fact is that there are physical requirements on the human body for rest. One of the dumbest phrases I have ever heard is “work hard, play hard.” Biblically speaking, the phrase should be “work hard, rest.” Every once in a while my family has a “no electricity night.” We literally go the night with no electricity. What we find is that we play games by candle/lantern light, talk, relax and spend quality time together. It also makes you realize how much of our life centers around gadgets — TV, radio, computers, telephones — all life complicaters, not simplifiers.
4. Concede defeat in the rat race: It has been said that even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat. For those who believe in something higher than “going for all the gusto”, we should realize that “keeping up with the Joneses” is not all it is cracked up to be. Half the Joneses are divorced, up to their ears in debt and daily on the phone to their therapist. We should concede defeat in this crazy race for wealth, pleasure and material possessions and focus on the race for eternal life. The Apostle Paul says “having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim 6:8)
“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken.” (Luke 10:38-42 NASB)
Have a great week!
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