Keep Things Simple

When Jesus sent The Twelve out on their first missionary trip, he told them not to take anything for the journey - no staff, no bag, no bread, no extra clothes. The Message gives a hint as to why:

“He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. 

(Luke 9:3–4 MESSAGE)

According to the Message, the reason that Jesus did not want the twelve to take things on their missionary journey was that he did not want them loaded down with extra baggage. They themselves were the equipment that God would use.

Later Jesus said  “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:16–17 NIV)

Jesus teaches two main lessons here. First, he teaches that no person is disqualified from the Kingdom based on their physical age or maturity. Children are welcome. The second teaching is that children actually have an advantage when it comes to the Kingdom because all must receive the Kingdom of God like a child. The message stresses the simplicity of a child. While adults seem to complicate things, children see things in a simple way. In order to experience the Kingdom we must receive it in a simple way.

Be wary of overly complex solutions to advancing the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom moves in the simple hearts of children. We must strive to keep our teaching about the Kingdom accessible, viral, reproducible and simple.

Lorne Sanny once said that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. This old guy thinks that keeping things simple is a key to finishing well. “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”

(2 Timothy 2:4 NAS95)