CREATURES OF HABIT: Stuff v. Simplicity 1-12-25
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, church! I want to welcome you today as we begin the second week of our sermon series, Creatures of Habit. I believe the weeks of these sermons may contain some of the most important topics we can cover.
Our lives are largely made up of the habits that we have developed. Each day is defined by the choices we make or do not make. God has wired us as people of routine. That, within itself, is not the problem. The problem is that some of the ruts we find ourselves in lead us to live unhealthy lives.
“Unless your habits change, you won't have a new year . . . You will just have another year of the same patterns. “
Anonymous
Last week we talked about replacing the habit of internalizing negative thoughts and living as if they define us with a habit of filling ourselves with truth from God’s word each and every day. We discovered that when we meditate on truth, day and night, it can profoundly impact how we live. Today, we will take a look at another habit that can help us live into the fullness of Christ.
Once upon a time there was a pharmacy on every corner. It seems like there are fast food restaurants on every corner. Soon there will be storage units at every corner. Have you noticed how many are being built in our communities?
A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car.
Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the door and torn it off at the shoulder.
A trucker passing nearby witnessed the accident, stopped his rig, and ran back to see if he could be of help. There standing, in a state of shock, was the banker at the edge of the cliff moaning, "Oh no, my BMW, my BMW". The trucker pointed to the banker’s shoulder and said "man you’ve got bigger problems than a car".
With that the banker looked at his shoulder, finally realizing he’d lost his arm, and began crying ":Oh No, my new Rolex, my new Rolex".
Sermon Central, April 1, 2008.
Our country is obsessed with more: More homes, More cars. More credit cards. More clothes. More vacations, More toys. We have a hunger for things and we have convinced ourselves that if we just had a little more, then we would be happy and fulfilled. I know people who spend hours a day on Amazon ordering something just to see it come to their door. I know individuals who love the rush of swiping a credit card just to toss the item to the side only days later. The ads on our phones and the commercials on our televisions would love for us to continue with our spending and collecting habits. The problem is there is no amount of stuff that can give us the sense of fulfillment and peace - that only comes from a relationship with God.
I. LESS IS MORE
For some of us, our spending habits, our collecting habits, and our hoarding habits have become such a part of our daily routine that we do not recognize the power they have over us. For many, these habits have gone on for so long, and are so accepted in our wider culture, that we forget that we have become slaves to payments, bills, worry, and comparison.
The apostle Paul offers us a new habit to introduce into our lives that may help us experience true freedom from an old way of living. He writes to the Philippian church about their willingness to support him in his most difficult season of ministry. The generous outpouring from this church was a blessing to Paul. And Paul shares his secret to loving God and loving others.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
A. Contentment
In a word, Paul is talking about contentment. He knows what it is like to have a lot. He knows what it is like to have a little. No matter the circumstances that he finds himself in, he has learned to be thankful and grateful for whatever God has provided.
By listing all the things God has given us, and being thankful for all the blessings we often overlook, we can develop a habit of gratitude and contentment. When we are constantly striving for more, we can lose the most important things in life. But, when we find ourselves with less, we can actually become more sensitive to each and every simple blessing.
B. Take an inventory
1. How have God’s little blessings impacted your life?
2. How aware are you of God’s daily blessings?
Here is an illustration that shows what a small daily habit of gratitude can do in someone’s life. In the Chilean village of Chungungo, water is nearly as valuable as precious metals. The region is arid and parched, forcing the village to truck in freshwater over dirt roads from miles away. Until recently, the average person could afford a mere four gallons a day (compare that to the average American who uses ninety gallons a day) and buying even that meager amount soaked up 10 percent of household incomes. In Chungungo bathing was a luxury.
But then, scientists experimented with an ingenious new system for obtaining water. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Schemenauer, a Canadian cloud physicist, workers hung a “wall” of finely woven propylene nets on the top of the nearby mountain, El Tofo. Each of these nets is the size of eight queen-size bed sheets sewn together and there are seventy-five such nets on this mountain. And they sift the clouds that incessantly sweep in from the Pacific Ocean. Like dew collects on grass, infinitesimally small water particles from fog collect on these fiber nets. Ten thousand such water particles must coalesce to produce one drop of water the size of a tear. Still, each water net collects forty gallons of water a day. The seventy-five nets on El Tofo sift a total of three thousand gallons daily from the drifting clouds and fog. And now the 330 residents of Chungungo drink water—the freshest they have ever tasted—from these nets atop nearby El Tofo mountain.
You see, just like these nets, little habits, over a long period of time can produce big results. It makes me wonder how our lives might change if we learned to live simply. If we learned to be content and to appreciate all that God has given to us, our hearts would overflow with joy.
II. SIMPLIFYING LIFE IS A FORM OF TRUST
As creatures of habit, we are not naturally content people. The draw for more is somehow connected to our value, worth, and status. We often are in the habit of accumulation because we are trying to keep up with others, or to bring ourselves comfort. Because of this, simplifying our lives takes intention. It doesn’t happen by accident.
A. When less is more
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:6 NIV
Jesus knew his followers would struggle with contentment. He knew it was a constant temptation to want more. What Jesus always pointed his followers to, was to trust. Trust that God would supply all of their needs.
B. Trust
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV
Jesus introduces us in this passage to a helpful habit that can move us from our need for stuff to a place of simplicity. The habit is awareness. Jesus says look around you. Put aside your worry and anxiety over what you do or do not have, rather, pay attention to how God provides and cares for the birds of the air. They do not scramble to sow or reap or fill up barns with perceived needs. They trust the Heavenly Father to simply provide. And here is the key: if God will do it for them, won’t he do it for us?
C. Thankfulness
ILLUSTRATION: I want to invite you to close your eyes. I want you to slow down for just a moment and take inventory of the blessings that God has given you. Think about your family, your workplace, your home, your health, the blessings that come with living in America. With each one that comes to mind, tell God, “Thank you”. (Give a moment) Now, with eyes closed, I want you to consider the desires you have that give you anxiety and worry. No matter what it is that you find consuming your mind and heart, give it to God. With each one that comes to mind, tell God, “I trust you”. (Give a moment)
Two simple phrases that could be implemented into your daily routine that would undoubtedly transform your life: Thank you. I trust you.
III. SEEK THE KINGDOM FIRST
Living the simple life begins with having our priorities in order. When we know what is most important in life it allows us to go without the things that are of peripheral importance. This was also a message that was preached by Jesus. He said it this way…
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 NIV
A. Seek first
Don’t seek that raise first. Don’t seek that new car first. Don’t seek the house on the lake first. Don’t seek that purse first. Instead our focus should be on the Kingdom of God first. When this is first on the totem pole of life, everything else has a way of falling in line.
B. Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness
ILLUSTRATION: Nesting boxes
In life there will always be many things vying for our attention. Whatever gets our attention will be the thing that consumes our time and energy. We must be very careful what we make a habit of chasing after. Sometimes we go after the lesser things. Things like cars, houses, larger bank accounts, clothes, shoes, or status. We have garages, storage units, and attics full of the stuff. Jesus warned us to make sure that the Kingdom of God is our priority. When we seek any of these four things first, we can’t hold everything. But, if we seek the Kingdom first, everything else has a way of fitting together. It is simplicity. Everything fits together when we put God first.
Putting the Kingdom first helps us navigate what to buy, what to pursue, how to treat our spouse, how to love our children. Putting the Kingdom first keeps us from wasting energy on things that don’t really matter and cluttering our lives with purposeless stuff.
C. Don’t worry
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34 NIV
CONCLUSION
So, as creatures of habit, how do we move from stuff to simplicity?
1. Intentionally watch your bank account. Create a routine of taking note of what gets the bulk of your finances. Are there places you would rather it go? Consider intentionally simplifying in one area so you can be generous to others in another.
2. Create margin in your life. Don’t overspend. Don’t overcommit. Don’t overextend. Say no to some things so you can say yes to better things.
3. Repent of idols in your life. Are there things that you have that you love more than God? Repent of them. Consider getting rid of them to protect your love for God.
I want to pray for you today and ask God to point at the areas of our day-to-day lives that could benefit from a simpler way of living.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
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