'But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.' 1 Timothy 6:6,7
In recent years we have seen the ascendency of digital or cryptocurrency with the Bitcoin, founded in January 2009. There are no physical bitcoins just a virtual commodity that has purchasing power or value that could be traded online and even for real goods. Bitcoins are not backed by gold, banks or governments. They are not even legal tender. Yet, one Bitcoin is valued at S$47,641 today, up from S$0/- when it was introduced in 2009 and S$0.08 in 2010. In the month of May 2021 alone, one Bitcoin was valued at the lowest price of S$45,569 to highest price at S$78,000.
In that volatility, many investors in Bitcoins have gained and some have lost their fortunes, almost instantaneously. It seems that nowadays, money need not be hard earned.
Life has become complicated.
What is the value of things? What is Wealth? "Our wealth is not measured by what we own but what we give away," wrote Bishop Robert Solomon (Ref 1) Bishop was not merely advocating generosity with that statement, he was urging us to keep life simple and not to allow one's wealth to complicate one's life. The missionary and martyr, James Elliot learned this lesson early in life, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
John Wesley urged Methodists, "Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can." Each instruction in the dictum highlights a certain way to live, a certain habit to develop, a certain value to possess. They are Diligence, Frugality and Generosity. Living by these principles, Bishop Solomon surmised, will bring Simplicity to one's life.
Kent Nerburn wrote in the Introduction to his book Simple Graces, "We dream our lives in grand gestures, but we live our lives in small moments. For though we may not live a holy life, we live in a world alive with holy moments. We need only take the time to bring these moments into the light." (Ref 2)
How then do we keep our lives simple, contented and unafraid? Jesus reaches out to us and tells us to walk with Him. A song 'I Know Who Holds Tomorrow' clarifies this.
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey
I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand
I don't know about tomorrow
It may bring me poverty
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me
And the path that be portion
May be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25,26 and 34
'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear. is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.'
Keep Life Simple.
Lionel
Ref 1. Bishop Robert M Solomon. Spiritual Disciplines for Urban Christians. Genesis Books, 2021
Ref 2. Kent Nerburn. Small Graces, The Quiet Gifts of Everyday Life. New World Library, 1998.
