Simplify Yourself

 

'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.' Matthew 18:2-3

The opening episodes of 'The Chosen' the multi-season drama series on the life of Jesus Christ contrasted the simple minded attitudes of little children ( Season 1 Episode 3) towards Jesus with the confused, complexity of the Pharisaical mind of Nicodemus (Season 1 Episode 8) trying to understand Jesus. Nicodemus approached his faith in a highly intellectual manner; the children accepted Jesus with childlike faith. The series devoted an entire episode on the interaction of Jesus with a group of children, how he accepted them and how he gently taught them. Why?

The contrast between the cynical questioning adult to the innocent acceptance of the child believer underscores the need for simplicity in the heart of every Christian as we exercise our faith. Bishop Robert Solomon, in his book Spiritual Disciplines for Urban Christian (Ref 1) selected Simplicity as one of six spiritual disciplines. Bishop said this is the quality of being single hearted, 'the simplicity of having one heart that is not divided or fragmented, one that has no duplicity.'

Christians are to serve God with an undivided heart.

'Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forevermore.' Psalms 86:11-12

Christianity is not so much a religion of the mind as it is a religion of the heart. St Paul warned that we are not to be confused with the theoretical doctrines but practical simplicity of a loving heart.

'We won't be tossed and blown about with every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever that they sound like truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more like Christ.' Ephesians 4:14-15a (NLT)

Bishop Solomon wrote that 'the undivided mind is focused on Christ. James warns us against being double-minded.' 

'Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as the wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.' James 1:6

'Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.' James 1:8

This is the simplicity of serving God alone of having a childlike faith. But living in the modern world especially in affluent Singapore can be very distracting. There is too much to buy, too much to possess, too much to hoard that modern Christians can end up serving two Masters, God and Mammon. 

That is why Bishop Solomon suggested that we continually ask, "Where is my treasure?" He wrote, "Our heart (which in the Bible is the personal centre of our will, emotion and reason) will be where we hold our treasures."

Dallas Willard (Ref 2) wrote, "... love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. It means to treasure Him..Our only wisdom, safety and fulfillment lies in so treasuring God."

So let us make life simple, Jesus loves the little children of the world.  

Lionel

Ref 1: Robert M Solomon, Spiritual Disciplines for Urban Christians, Genesis Books, 2021

Ref 2: Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.