Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Boundaries”
Our Bible verse for today: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Sometimes we need to downsize and simplify”
More often than not, when we feel as if our lives are as full as they can be and are actually overflowing, it’s because we haven’t established and maintained good boundaries. Very often the reason that happens is because we have become caught in the trap of believing that if a little of something is good, then more is even better. But the truth is, more is often not better. Many times more turns out to be too much.
If a full-time job of 40 hours per week is good, then 60 hours per week is even better, right? We could easily think so simply because 60 hours of work probably produces more income than 40 hours does. But working 60 hours will also substantially impact our overall quality of life. It will leave us tired; it will take away from our family time; it will reduce the time we have for rest, recreation, and renewal; it may interfere with our exercise routine (I’m preaching to myself here).
If having our children involved in Little League and karate is good, then having them involved in Little League, karate, gymnastics, and music classes is even better, right? Well, probably not. That kind of a schedule will wear out both the kids involved in them, and the parents who have to take them to all those events.
The point is that many times more is not better, more is often too much. Frequently the best answer is to simplify and downsize. If we work fewer hours we may end up with a smaller income, a smaller house, an older car, and shorter vacations, but we will also end up with more family time, more rest, better physical health, and more time for church activities (Amen! Said the pastor writing this.)
Many years ago Richard Foster wrote a wonderful little book entitled “The Freedom of Simplicity”. In it he makes the case for the very thing Paul calls for in the verses from 1 Timothy cited above. Foster maintains that when we simplify our lives and learn to be content with less instead of more, we suddenly discover a sense of freedom that we never experienced before. We come to realize that we had actually been held captive by our complex lives of packed schedules, never ending demands, and huge financial burdens. Breaking free from that is liberating. We may end up with less money and fewer possessions, but the quality of life actually improves substantially.
It’s true, godliness with contentment can be a great gain for us. Sometimes we need to simplify our lives by downsizing.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 