Under the Hood of Simplicity
by Mike Killebrew
My son, who is now 17 years old, purchased a 1985 Chevy C10 short-bed, two-wheel-drive truck when he was 14 years old. I’ll kindly comment that on the day we picked it up, it wasn’t going to win any awards at the local car show. Over the next two years, he and I restored it together. We learned many new things as we replaced rusted-out body parts, mixed body fillers, sanded it all down, then completely prepped and painted it ourselves. Truthfully, it was a difficult project for the two of us as restoration rookies. There were many times, however, we talked about how simple a vehicle it was. It has no computer, few electronics and plenty of space to work under the hood. Despite our limited experience and expertise, we brought it back to fully road-legal condition. We even ended up replacing the engine ourselves. I’m not sure we would have been able to do that had it been 20 years newer. Trucks were built simpler in 1985, but they are not so simple anymore.
Keeping it simple has fallen on difficult times and not just regarding how automobiles are put together.
Simplicity as a discipline isn’t easy. Perhaps, like me, you too need a restoration of simplicity.
We live in a world that many would say is complicated. We overcommit by saying yes to more things than we can manage. Many would agree that we collectively live stressful, complicated, and hurried lives. We are constantly coming and going, and going, and going, and going, frequently getting nowhere besides a couple of stops on the road of good intentions. There are countless options everywhere we turn, making it hard to manage our precious time. When we do decide how to spend our time, interruptions and distractions are nearly inescapable. Just now, writing this paragraph, my laptop dinged with the sound of an email hitting my inbox. It’s all I can do to keep typing and not read the email. Now my phone is ringing and after hitting silence and saying to myself, “I’ll call him back,” my voicemail dings with a new message. The phone rings again and it shows “spam risk.” We’ve all been there and understand the tension.
Jesus certainly modeled simplicity while at the same time He managed to accomplish Hhs mission. How did He do it and what can I learn? I heard someone else sum it up like this: “Jesus lived simply but He did not simply live.” He was homeless during His adult life; He wasn’t worried about others’ expectations and He often asekd questions rather than give lectures. In the Gospels we don’t see Him filling His schedule with “doing” tasks; rather we see Him “being” with the Father. He was never so hurried that He didn't take time to meet the needs of those around Him. It’s fascinating.
I want to be more like Jesus and simplify while at the same time have purpose like Jesus. The e2 blog theme of 2024 All Eyes on Jesus is appropriate when I think about practicing simplicity in my own life. I’ve got a great example to follow, and I need to keep my eyes on that example. Here are four instances in Jesus’ life where He shows us ways to practice simplicity in our daily tasks.
1. Through our Words
The Sermon on the Mount (Mathew 5-7): Jesus had just noticed a crowd gathering and went up on a mountainside, sitting down to teach them. It’s what we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount. He told them, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37). Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Disciplines, makes this point. “If you consent to do a task, do it. Avoid flattery and half-truths. Make honesty and integrity the distinguishing characteristics of your speech. Reject jargon and abstract speculation whose purpose is to obscure and impress rather than to illuminate and inform.”
2. With our Finances
The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-27): In this story, a wealthy young man approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus instructs him to sell all his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him. The young man, attached to his wealth, finds this challenging and leaves sorrowful. Jesus uses this encounter to emphasize the importance of simplicity and detachment from material possessions, highlighting that it’s extremely difficult for those with wealth to enter the kingdom of God.
3. In Generosity
The Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4): Jesus observes people making contributions at the Temple, and He notices a poor widow who gives only two small coins. Despite her meager offering, Jesus commends her, saying that she gave more than all the others because they gave out of their wealth, but she gave out of her poverty. This story underscores the value of sacrificial giving and the principle of simplicity in our generosity, emphasizing the heart's attitude rather than the amount.
4. By Trusting Him
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-34): Jesus delivers a comprehensive teaching on simplicity as part of the Sermon on the Mount. He encourages his followers not to store up treasures on earth but to focus on heavenly treasures. He advises against worry about material needs, stating that God knows and cares for His children. Jesus urges a simple trust in God's provision and a prioritization of seeking His kingdom. This teaching promotes a mindset of simplicity, relying on God rather than the ephemeral foundation of worldly possessions.
Simplifying our lives is not a call to laziness or disengagement but rather a deliberate choice to focus on the essentials. Just as Jesus didn't clutter His schedule with endless tasks but prioritized being with the Father and meeting the needs of those around Him, we too can find purpose in simplicity.
