Week 5

Simplicity 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the story of the "Rich and the Kingdom of God" (Matt. 19: 16-30).  Most of us have heard this story many times.  I would bet that most of the time it has been taught and preached as a stewardship sermon.  It is true that Jesus has a lot to say about our money and how it should be used.  But, I would suggest that this story is about much more that stewardship.

The rich rules opens with the question, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"  We must first consider what he was asking.  In our contemporary understanding, eternal life suggests that he is asking about heaven.  But what did eternal life mean to this rich young man?  It has less do with the after life and more to do with life in the present.  He was asking what must I do to have a full and joyful life right now?  

It is interesting that the young man had it all according to our standards today.  He was rich and could have anything he wanted.  Yet, his life was missing something.  There are many stories of million dollar lottery winners who become more unhappy than before winning.  Money and possessions do not buy happiness.  I was struck, by the joy that was evident in the lives of the poor of Paraguay that I encountered on a short-term mission trip.  They literally had nothing.   

He was a religious man.  He attended church and obeyed the commandments.  He followed the religious conventions of his day with all its legalisms  yet, his life was still missing something.  I think the clue is in his question.  In his quest for an abundant life, he was looking for something that he needed to do.  He was looking to add to his life rather than subtract from it.  In order to find eternal life, he needed to simplify.

The spiritual discipline of simplicity while classified as an outward discipline, first begins with what Richard Foster calls "inward focus and unity."  It means as Christians, we need to operate out of what Thomas Kelly calls "The Divine Center."  Simplicity is emptying oneself of those things that prohibit us from making space for God and for others.  Real life is measured in relationships rather than checking things off of a to-do list. Relationships can only be fostered when our lives are simple enough to allow them.

Think about your life for a moment.  If it is anything like mine, it is filled with moving from one thing to another.  Technology is supposed to make our lives easier.  But in many ways technology has complicated our lives with the constant intrusions of text messages, emails, Facebook messages and the like.  Our culture sets expectations we aspire to achieve with the newest toys, gadgets, gizmos, clothes, cars and other things.  We are constantly working to keep up with the Jones.  Life is anything but simple and relationships are hard to foster in this environment.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."  The abundant life only possible through a relationship with Jesus and that requires space that can be made through simplistic living. 

Week 4

Study

For most of us, when we hear the word study, we are taken back to our high school days.  It involved memorizing and learning facts to prepare for a test.  As an educator, many times my students ask me, "What do we need to study?"  In essence, they are asking what is going to be on the test.  If we are real with ourselves, many times we as Christians approach the Bible in the same way.  We memorize passages or want answers for the test of life.

Study as a spiritual discipline involves more than memorizing or preparing for a test.  Paul says in Rom. 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  Study then is allowing the Scripture rather than other things to conform your mind.  Paul goes on to say in Phil. 4:8, "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, what ever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Study is giving ourselves the space to to think about such things.  

Study is different than meditation.  In mediation, we seek to read Scripture devotionally; it speaks to the heart.  Study speaks to the head.  With prayer, it is an essential component of a deep, vibrant relationship with God.  I believe that study is a non-negotiable for the Christian life.  Jesus said in Jn. 8:32, "The you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  Study is necessary for a balanced Christian life.  In prayer, we engage our hearts and emotions.  We can not live a Christian life constantly operating from an emotional state.  We need to be grounded in the truth that only come through study.

According to Richard Foster, there are four steps to study:

1.)  Repetition 

2.)  Concentration

3.)  Comprehension

4.)  Reflection

Many times we come to the Scripture, especially passages that are familiar to us, and read them very quickly.  Study requires us to read the Scripture over and over very slowly.  It is best to read the passage in different versions.  If you do not have different versions, an online source like www.biblegateway.com could be helpful.  Repetition in and of itself helps to begin to mold the mind.

Study also involves concentration.  This can be difficult for many of us with so many distractions.  Many of us think that we can multitask well.  Studies have shown that our brains do not shift well from one task to another; it  is inefficient    To truly study, you have to be committed to time devoted only to it.  

Comprehension is understanding what is being studied.  It requires understanding the culture and the intent of the writer.  This may require the use of commentaries and dictionaries.  These other sources are aids to augment our comprehension, they do not take the place of our own thinking.  Also they are not Scripture.

After doing the work of comprehension, the last step is reflection.  How does this apply to my life?  Foster says, "Reflection brings us to see things from God's perspective.  In reflection we come to understand not only our subject matte, but ourselves."

Study cannot be done in isolation.  To truly get the most out of study, there needs to be discussion with other people.  We all come to Scripture with our own particular lens.  As we begin to discuss the Scripture with others, we are challenge to hear it from a different vantage point.  We come to understand it more fully.