Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Enthusiasm”
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: “Simplicity is good for enthusiasm”
This past weekend my wife and I held a yard sale. It was a really big deal for me because I hate yard sales. Detest them. I don’t go to them and I absolutely don’t hold them – except this time.
Linda and I recently came to the realization that it was time to downsize and simplify our lives. Our house was entirely too big for only two people, and we owned far too much stuff – most of which we hadn’t used in years. So we bought a smaller house just right for the two of us. But once we were all moved into it, and even after we had given away a lot of furniture and possessions to friends and family, we were still left with a two car garage packed so full of furniture, housewares, knick-knacks, and who knows what, that there was no room to walk. And all of that was extra stuff. Stuff we didn’t need, couldn’t use, and didn’t want. A two car garage filled with it!
Part of the dawning realization we had about the need to downsize and simplify was the understanding that rather than owning all that stuff, it actually ended up owning us. Once we had it we had to maintain it and store it – and that required time and money that could have been better used for other things.
In addition to our lives being jam packed with many more possessions than we needed, we had also allowed ourselves to become much busier than we should be. And all of that, the lives which were too busy and the mountains of extra stuff that we didn’t need, was distracting. Our attention was so divided, and there were so many things and activities swirling around the edges of our lives, that we weren’t paying full attention to the activities and people who matter the most.
In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Paul writes about a better way. There he advocates for a simple life. It’s a common Biblical theme. King Solomon learned it the hard way and ended up writing an entire book of the Bible about it (Ecclesiastes). Simplicity and contentment is also a major theme in the book of Proverbs. Jesus modeled it for us, and the Apostle Paul wrote about it in several of his letters.
When we narrow our focus in life to the things, activities, and people who matter most, we’re able to pay deeper attention to them. That then will increase the joy we experience and the enthusiasm we have. Simplicity is good for enthusiasm.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 