Simply Difficult! 
By Jim Rule

In his book, The Teeth of the Northeaster, Marlin Bree wrote about exploring the Lake Superior coastline of northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota with a home-built sailboat. In the coastal village of Cornucopia, Wisconsin, he met Reverend Johnson, who was both a part-time minister and shopkeeper. He and his wife had dropped out of urban life and moved north to pursue a simpler life. When Marlin asked him how they managed in their isolated location and kept up this dual lifestyle, Rev. Johnson said, "To live a simple life is not easy. In fact, to live simply is a very difficult task because you are so dependent upon yourself."

I am sure what Rev. Johnson meant by that is to live in isolation from many of the services and conveniences of more populated regions requires doing much for yourself. But for most of us, to simplify our lives requires just the opposite. I will restate Rev. Johnson’s reply in order to make my point. I would say, "To live a simple life is not easy. In fact, to live simply is a very difficult task because you are so dependent upon God."

Simplifying our lives by reducing our involvements, obligations, material assets, and accumulated possessions can be difficult. I can testify that I have not simplified my own life in any of these respects without some external pressure motivating me, yet I have appreciated the freedom gained.

Jesus said He came to set us free. We usually think of that as freedom from the condemnation of sin, which He does give. But He doesn’t just offer freedom from the final curse of sin; He offers freedom from the daily curse of seeking deeper lasting fulfillment from things that cannot ever provide it.

I think that is why Jesus is for simplicity. It is not only to reduce unhealthy pressure, but to give us freedom and encourage dependence. That’s right, I said "encourage dependence" - not self-dependence, but dependence on Him. Being our own Providence in life is a role none of us are suited for.

In Luke 12:27-28 (RSV) Jesus said, "Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!"

We tend to think the flowers are just sort of stuck there, able to do nothing, so of course if God didn’t take care of them they would never survive. We, on the other hand, are capable of being active and striving, so we do. But I think the point is, the flowers are doing what they were created for, being flowers, and God provides for them. Then, if we are being and doing what we were created to be, won’t God provide for us as well? What is required of us is trust. That is why simplifying is so hard. We have to trust that without all kinds of contingencies on our part, God will provide, not only tangibly, but intangibly as well. We don’t have to saturate life with all kinds of things and experiences for life to be satisfying, fulfilling, and meaningful.

Living simply -- that is difficult, because it requires something that is simply difficult -- trust! Pray for it! And I’m sure as God gives it, and we practice it, we will need a lot less of other things