9 Live Simply

Simple living conjures up mental pictures of our neighbors going to church in their horse drawn buggies, Amish with no electricity, plain clothed people who reject technology.

It isn’t about demands of the law but habits of true freedom. It’s about living the Jesus life.

As we learn to follow Jesus, we increasingly see His simple life. We allow the Jesus who had no place to lay his head to be lord over us and lord over our comfort. Then we can experience the power of the Gospel. We can trust His leading and lordship because He leads by His example.

Uncluttered Life

Let’s consider some of the stories Jesus told.

When someone tried to bring Jesus into an inheritance disagreement with his brother, Jesus warned against greed with this story.

Tell the story of rich farmer from

Luke 12:13–21 CSB

13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Rich farmer – don’t hoard or store for yourself, be rich toward God. More stuff means more work to care for it.

Or today, work hard save it up, retire early. The self made man can now take it easy the rest of his days. Or the rest of his DAY as in the parable. He doesn’t get to enjoy it and his little kingdom goes to someone who didn’t work for it anyway.

We could say this man’s life was cluttered with work, excess profit, pride.

What else is clutter? Possessions, Busyness, Budget. All of it can be good, but too much of good is counter productive. Not helpful. Hinders.

A simple life is an uncluttered life.

Jesus warns of storing up treasure, of cluttering our lives.

Read

Matthew 6:19–21 CSB

19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-21treasure stored on earth deteriorates, in heaven as an inheritance. Your heart is where your treasure is. That includes stuff and doing and giving and helping.

treasure stored on earth deteriorates, in heaven as an inheritance. Your heart is where your treasure is. That includes stuff and doing and giving and helping.

Esther Spurrier - Remember that when God blesses people with spiritual and material blessing they are not to dam the flow of treasure into a reservoir for themselves, but let it flow to others. Not just a word for individuals but to congregations also.

Right or wrong to have stuff? No. but where is your heart? What are you doing with it? Are you using it to serve God and bless others? (transition to next)

The more buildings and vehicles and tools and stuff that we have the more time and effort and money is required to take care of it. What do we really NEED? How much is enough? Usually we say just a little bit more. If only we had…_______.

Mt. Rock facility as metaphor - same situation. more than we really need. what will we do with it?

Love, Give, Serve

Removing the clutter brings real freedom. We are free from the bondage to the clutter, free to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.

disciple community shared wealth, helped those in need,

Jesus command – that you love one another. Love your neighbor. You can’t say you love God and hate your brother. That isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling for the person across the aisle from you in the service.

Read and talk about Mark 10:17-21

Mark 10:17–23 CSB

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

Rich young ruler idolized wealth, would not follow Jesus, first focus is wealth. Although it looks like he can check the boxes and doing the law, in actuality he is not because he missed the first, love God, and through that also not loving others. Missed the Kingdom because of stuff.

Rich young ruler idolized wealth, would not follow Jesus, first focus/priority is wealth. Although it looks like he can check the boxes and he’s doing the law, in actuality he is not because he missed the first, love God above all else, and through that also not loving others. Missed the Kingdom because of stuff.

1 John 3:16–17 CSB

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him?

1 John 3:16 CSB

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

who has worldly wealth, help meet needs.

who has help meet needs.

Ephesians 4:28 CSB

28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.

Even the thief told to be generous above any other command.

Tell the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38–42 CSB

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary and Martha clutter of doing, even good serving but higher priority is time with Jesus. (transition point)

Mary and Martha clutter of doing, of too much serving, even good serving but higher priority is time with Jesus. (transition point)

Where is my focus?

Last week I mentioned that peace is an easy concept to get but difficult to live out. For me, presents another extremely difficult concept to live out. Easy to understand, nearly impossible to do well.

Read don’t worry

Matthew 6:25–34 CSB

25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Talk through the rest then read v.33

Seek first = always main priority is pursue the Kingdom and right living (another way of saying love God, love others) God knows the need and takes care of it.

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Seek first = always main priority is pursue the Kingdom and right living (another way of saying love God, love others) God knows the need and takes care of it.

No promise of excess, wealth, plenty. But promise of needs being met. Priority is rightly aligned.

Again where treasure is heart also.

Matthew 6:21 CSB

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Reduce the clutter:

We don’t need to fill in all the blank spaces. God created work but He also created rest – Sabbath. Get your sleep, take the weekly day of rest. Make time for Jesus

We don’t need all the things. Begin to bless others as you remove the stuff clutter.

Even in serving, narrow focus, simplify to what you’ve been gifted to do.

Conclusion

Kingdom economy is very different from the world’s economy. Paradoxical even. Give to receive. Serve to lead. Give away to store up. Bless to be blessed and blessed to bless.

Store your treasure in heaven, invest in the Kingdom by removing the clutter, loving boldly, giving generously, and serving joyfully.

Big Idea: Reduce clutter, live simply, follow Jesus

Reduce clutter, live simply, follow Jesus

What About You?

Consider what clutter you need to get rid of – material possessions, downsize house or vehicles, too much savings or retirement, food or tools or other stash.

Consider use of time – work, serving, recreation. Spreading too thin in serving or other opportunities.

Consider where you can invest for the kingdom and store up treasure in heaven.