SIMPLICITY the PATH to CONTENTMENT

 

October 17, 2024

Matthew 6:28-34 

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ...

Matthew 6:25-26 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

 

 

Earlier this week we said that embracing simplicity starts with letting go, shedding hindrances that tangle up our faith and obedience. We noted that Jesus showed us that to walk in His footsteps means relying on God's provision and valuing spiritual treasures above the pursuit of worldly possessions. We concluded in our preceding devotions this week that life becomes much simpler when our top pursuit is Jesus only. 

You see, contentment lies at the heart of simplicity, when we can rest in the blessings given by God and we can trust confidently in God's sufficiency. The Bible encourages believers to embrace gratitude and joy in every situation, recognizing that true fulfillment is found in God, rather than in material quests or social standing. The things that our culture says are of great value seem to make our lives more complicated.

Contentment is a feeling of calm satisfaction, a freedom from care or worry, a sense of enjoyment and pleasure. Simplicity promotes a way of thinking and living that brings peace. Contentment is not circumstantial, contentment is a state of mind not a state of affairs. I truly believe that the feeling of contentment comes from simple living, right thinking and the adopting of an eternal perspective. Go back and read our verses for today, isn't that what Jesus was teaching? 

The spiritual discipline of simplicity breaks the control that stuff has over our lives. Contentment inspires simplicity. Simplicity affirms contentment. Simplicity and contentment condition the soul for greater effectiveness and deeper intimacy. we come to desire fewer things, and we give less time and energy to earthly concerns. We "set our minds on things above" (Colossians 3:1) and we lay aside every encumbrance to a deeper walk with God. (Hebrews 12:1a)