Keep it simple!
I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is fading away.1 Corinthians 7:29-31 MSG
Of a truth this letter of Paul to the Corinthians gives a practical picture of applying the christian faith to day to day issues.
For example, in today’s chapter, reading from the Message translation we are charged to keep things simple. Hmmm. Is that really possible in the present circumstances we find ourselves in Nigeria?
The reality of our times means most of us are so caught up in the race for that next big thing that will make our lives *better* that we lose sight of those simple things we can do that will not cost us an arm and a leg, while deriving satisfaction from.
What our minds tell us is that we will be okay only when we get those things we are pursuing. But the irony is that once you get that, the race for the next thing starts.How then can we keep things simple? Is it even possible, given our current realities?
Is Paul encouraging a life of docileness or lack of self motivation here? Well I think the starting point is to remind ourselves of Matt 11:28-30.
No doubt we have come to Jesus. But coming to Jesus is just a first step towards his goal of changing our labour and heavy ladenness to light burdens. I will say the missing link is the “Learn of me” (Jesus).
Learning has never been an easy feat, it involves a great deal of commitment, fortitude, endurance among other things. Perhaps as we can pay a closer attention to learning of Him, as we yoke(Attach firmly)our lives to His, taking a cue from him as we journey on in life, then, keeping it simple will no longer be a pipe dream for many.
By so doing, we can also avoid those complications of our day to day lives that become a heavy burden for us to bear. So having heeded His call to come, let’s get onboard with learning of Him day after day. May we receive grace to walk in those things He teaches us in Jesus name. Amen 🙏