It’s a Gift to Be Simple

It’s a Gift to Be Simple

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As I prayed for revelation as the new year began, I sensed the Lord’s heart in calling us to be simple, plain speaking and versatile. 

We have come through a tumultuous, tempestuous year that grew in an atmosphere of convoluted thinking, meaningless political verbosity and, for many, an inability to move from old, crusty, rusty fearful mindsets into the redeeming message of hope that comes from trusting in our heavenly Father rather than politics, political structures and politicians.  

The Word of God has much to say about simple living, which is, in reality, humbling ourselves before God and accepting that He treasures us and desires that we walk in His abundance.

I often enjoy reading the Message Bible.  Although it lacks the poetic beauty of other translations it is “plain speaking.”  The following verses outline the simple life.

Proverbs 13: 7-8 (Message Bible):   “A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life. The rich can be sued for everything they have, but the poor are free of such threats.”  

The desire to be acknowledged for what we have and what we do will lead us into a slippery slope of never having enough to bring peace and assurance into our lives.  Our chasing after affluence and popularity can bring all those things that money and power can buy, but leave us spiritually, emotionally, and morally bankrupt. 

Proverbs 13:9: “The lives of good people are brightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.”

Walking in the will of the Lord protects us from scandal, gossip, and dark secrets.  To live simply, we must walk according to the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:23-23:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” 

Proverbs 13:10:  “Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.”

Only God is omniscient.  He is never arrogant in His omniscience.  His grace, mercy and love spring forth from His omniscience.

Proverbs 13:13: “Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.” 

Riches are more than finances.  Riches in the Lord include His deliverance, healing, comfort and hope. 

Proverbs 13:14:  “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!” 

The Word of God must be our plumb line for discerning truth.  We must not accept the lie of the enemy that the Word is not relevant for today.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever more.  The Ten Commandments are as wise today as they were when Moses brought them down from Mt. Sinai.  The Beatitudes are prudent words for all the ages.  Truth is truth because it transcends ages and cultures.

Proverbs 13:15-16 “Sound thinking makes for gracious living, but liars walk a rough road.  A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness.”

Liars and fools live difficult, ridiculous lives.  That is why it is sin to lie and to revel in foolishness.

Proverbs 13:17:  “Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.”

Those are wise words for the coffee shop crowds.

I love the old Shaker song “Simple Gifts” by Joseph Brackett.

“'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 
When true simplicity is gain'd, 
 To bow and to bend we won't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight, 
  Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.”

Removing the sinful complications of our lives allows us to walk in freedom, to feel at home in our own skin, to bloom where we are planted and to walk out of the clichés of  the ordinary.