A Simple Life

“And, yes, no doubt to others, our ways seem quaint. But today of all days, it is brought home to me: It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.”

(Bilbo Baggins, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Directed by Peter Jackson.

Based on “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien)

     On Saturday we celebrated my second youngest sister's birthday. It was a good evening with family and friends playing badminton and Rock Band and just generally enjoying each others company. It got me to thinking about how much we appreciate our lives. I could have been born anywhere else in this world, some perhaps nicer and others not so much. God chose however, to place me here with these people and at this time. I think we spend a good deal of time making sure we know that our faith is not bound up in our culture and reminding ourselves that we are not owed the prosperity we have, but sometimes I think we forget to take the time to thank Him for where we are.

     I wonder if we are neglecting the real goodness of a simple life. Just think about how much we love our rock stars and movie stars and success stories! We love to hear about the glory or the fame, about the self-made man or the under-dog champion, the 'come from behind' victor or the last-second victory; but how often do we celebrate the simple husband and father, the humble wife and mother, the close family or the strong bond found there? These things are gifts to us, great blessings that far surpass the fleeting glory of victory or stardom. It is in this simple humble life that true joy is found and real life happens.

     It feels like there is no honor left for the man who provides. How many men are looked down on for just going to work and making their wage and providing a home? How many of us would look at the man who may work long hours, or spend his life in hard labor to give his family what they require and think “If only he'd applied himself more.” Are we wasting our time if we don't pursue 'success?' Do we ask if that man is happy? Do we ask if he's living as God would have him? Do we care?

“For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit:

And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart.”

(1 Peter 3:10-11)

     Even in our church culture we seem obsessed with superstars. Big name preachers and mega-churches fill the headlines and line bookshelves, but why? We hear so much of the “great men of faith” that we forget a very simple fact. There are NO great men! There was only one great man, and that man was also God. Men are small and fallen and weak, only God is great. What matters is not how successful you are or how well known you are or how much you know, it is not about how “great” you are, it's about how Godly you are! I will take a handful of faithful local church elders over a hundred 'great' preachers for there is much to learn from a life lived in faith.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,”

(Titus 2:11-12)

     Take some time today to thank God for His blessings. Thank Him for the men and women in your life who don't have their name up in lights or their ministry talked about on the news, but who wake up every day and get about the work of the kingdom never looking to be known by anyone but God. Thank God for your life, your simple beautiful life.

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

(2 Corinthians 13:11)