The Simple Life

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7 (ESV) Paul, a man, used by God and abused by man, tells us that we should not be anxious about anything. Whenever someone gives us advice, we do a quick mental check to see if they are qualified to advise us in the area discussed. We dismiss their thoughts if they lack the sufficient life experience to speak authoritatively. Paul was a man who was once a Christian killer. He was often beaten, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. So when he tells us about anxiousness, we should pay attention. His cure is simple in that he implores us to take our concerns to God, our Father, and thankfully speak of our concerns, knowing He has a plan that includes us that will work o...

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 (ESV) God knows the future; we do not. God loves us and is preparing us for whatever the future will produce, yet the future still lies in the future, so as of today, we are not prepared. Anxiousness is often a byproduct of thinking about what lies ahead when we have not yet been prepared for those events. (Or, we have refused to walk with God, so we will not be ready.) Tomorrow will come with all the trials, heartaches, and blessings that generally come, and if I am walking with God today, I will be prepared, thankful, and at rest. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (ESV) We have choices in life. I can seek riches, power, authority, fame, comfort, or God and His plan for man. As I seek God and His plan, there may be riches, power, authority, fame, and comfort, but they become byproducts that should never be mistaken for the cause. As I seek God, I head into the headwinds of turmoil and find peace in the eye of the storm. As I rest in the eye, I realize that the winds surrounding me contain a chaotic mess, so I rest in the eye. If I focus on calming the winds, I am frustrated and anxious, so I rest and pray that others join me in the eye. As I seek God and His ways, I find rest and peace amid this Godless chaos. Thank you, Lord! https://www.podbean.com/relate365

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 6:31-32 (ESV) Those who do not know God act like they do not know God. Those who know God act like they know God. It always comes back to the simple. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

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? Matthew 6:28-30 (ESV) Perhaps our anxiousness or lack of it points to our focus. If I focus on my ability to meet all my needs, I will be anxious. Likewise, I will be anxious if I put my hope in my job, government, and charitable programs. All programs and people can fail, but God cannot. If I observe how God has cared for His creation, I will rest in the fact that I am the crowning joy of all His creation, and He will take care of me. If I am anxious about the future, I am focused on the wrong thing, ignorant of God and His love for me, or running from God. Those who know God rest in Him. It is time to make knowing Him your life...

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:27 (ESV) What does anyone gain by being anxious? If being anxious is meaningless, why do so many suffer from its consequences? Most teachings in the Bible are obvious. Those who ignore the obvious suffer from their ignorance. There is a God, who created us, loves us, and gives us a planned purpose and hope. If I choose not to know Him and the apparent truths of Scripture, I choose to live an anxious life. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV) Being content with the position in life God gives you is key to being fulfilled in life. There is one God, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the same to all His children. God acts out of love and acts in a way that reflects what is best for me and all His children. There is a delicate balance between setting goals and being content. God expects us to take the ten talents He gave us and do something with them; therefore, our contentment is not equated to laziness. Our contentment comes from Him giving us ten, five, or one talent. Our contentment is in who God is, not the fears, worries, or concerns for this life. Those who know God know contentment. Do you know God? https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:32-34 (ESV) Luke gives a similar account of what Jesus said concerning the purpose of money or resources. There will be many surprises when God talks to us about why He gave us our resources. We know that they were not given to us for us to be greedy; they were given to us to honor His name. In that, they may be given to care for our needs, to care for others, or to place us in positions to represent our Savior. One day we will all know why God entrusted us and will answer to Him alone. Therefore, it is wise to go the Him alone and seek guidance for their proper use. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"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?” Matthew 6:25 (ESV) There are places in the Scriptures that command us not to be anxious; therefore, we must have a choice. Those who are anxious in this life need to spend more time getting to know God. We are told in Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" I am a child of God; He knows my needs and is capable of meeting my needs. Knowing this, I should be confident, not anxious, about life. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (ESV) "The meaning and truth of the maxim here laid down. The man who serves his master serves him with faithfulness and singleness of heart, with a mind wholly given to his service. It is impossible thus to serve two. He may appear to serve both: but let contrary interests arise and it will be seen to which he really belongs." (J. Fell) Money is a tool, not a goal. Money is something to be used, not loved. When we love money, we use people, and when we love people, we use money; therefore, how we think is a good barometer of where we are. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (ESV) The thoughts in this passage are not difficult to understand. God made us to have one master, not many. We could be mastered by comfort, money, position, health or reputation, or we could be mastered by the Master. Those who work for money have money master them, yet I am not suggesting that one should not work, as the Scriptures teach that if one does not work, one should not eat. All people are responsible for working, yet God does not list minimum wages. We work because we can point to Christ in our work, and some of us will get paid poorly, while others will get a large salary. Those who get paid little should not complain, and those who get paid more than they need should be generous. Neither should work just for money. In the end, the one who got one talent will be judged the same as the...

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV) Man cannot operate in darkness. We need light to see where we are going, appreciate the beauty of our surroundings, and give life to plants, animals, and ourselves.  What we look at guides us. We are on the path towards destruction if we look at questionable television programs, movies, social media, or internet sites. Envy, lust, jealousy, and discontentment start with an unbridled look and quickly lead to destruction. The eye is the gate to the brain, which is the control center of all, and if something has no access to the control center, it cannot have any effect. The Scriptures warn us to be cautious about anything that allows access to the brain. Here we are warned about what we look at, yet other places warn us to be carefu...

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) Treasures that can be stolen, misplaced, or degraded are not treasures. Everything we look at, handle, or touch will be destroyed one day. The items we own/control will be owned and controlled by others. Things we consider precious could be regarded as garbage by those who follow us. This is how it is, and nothing can change this reality. Therefore, if I spend my life living for things that will be discarded or destroyed, I anxiously await someone to disregard my fortune. Those who assign too much value to their things feel disrespected when others find our "things" worthless. It is no surprise that a society with many things has a problem with anxie...

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) We are often troubled by thinking about ourselves as superior to those around us. We always have a good motive for our actions, and an excellent reason to be angry with those who get in our way. In some strange way, we want to be like God, where all we do and say is "right," and those who question us are wrong. Yet, we are not God, and this thought process breeds tension and division. We can never be at peace while wishing harm on others. All of us are sinful and need God's mercy and grace; we would be wise to remember this when others do things to hurt us. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

  "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:7-13 (ESV) We often put pressure on ourselves to pray appropriately. Unfortunately, this pressure can fuel anxiety as we focus on method over substance. The Lord's Prayer, as an example, should put us at rest after reading the first line. Those who pray effectively pray to their Father. As a father, I have not been as concerned with the proper method of communication as I have been with the content of the communication. I always want my children to talk with me, and I re...

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6 (ESV) The constant pressure of performing to an acceptable, even admirable, standard to others breeds anxiety. Anxiety comes from the fact that our show may be lame or unappreciated. Those who perform in public must also concoct some sort of answer to their prayers, so the commoners are impressed. This, too, breeds anxiety. When the pressure for success is fueled by our ability to perform rather than in Christ, we drown in our anxious thoughts. Knowing the will of God and living in obedience to Him is the fuel of our future and always results in sustainable energy for the challenges life presents. https...

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV) Those trying to impress others are constantly anxious because their peace comes from what others think of them. But unfortunately, this variable is continuously changing, and is usually fueled by gossip, slander, and politics. Peace of heart comes when we serve God from a heart of worship, whereas anxiety is a barometer notifying us of an imminent heart storm. As we commit our way to God, we depend upon Him to ...

  When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.   Esther 4:1 (ESV) Queen Esther was anxious because she was planning to risk her life on behalf of her people. Fear of death, pain, suffering, humiliation, and the unknown is a crucial element of anxiety. "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come into the king these thirty days." And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at ...

After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you." But Hannah answered, "No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in Spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:9-15 (ESV) Hannah...

  And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.  Genesis 33:1-4 (ESV) We are often anxious about things that could or might happen. Jacob was a deceiver willing to take from his family for personal gain. He lived with the guilt of his evil, and the pain of knowing he had wronged his brother haunted him. When he thought of Esau, he probably thought of how he would have responded if their roles were reversed. His obvious guilt and running away from the problem caused his anxiety. All of this could have been avoided by doing what was ...