We live in a culture and at a time when the road to happiness often means, buy more and buy bigger. More stuff, more alcohol, more food, bigger trucks, bigger hard drives, bigger houses, etc.

It is not the first time that a culture has been distracted by the belief that more stuff equates to more happiness. Ancient words from the prophet Haggai indicate a similar mindset during his time: “You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6)

Words of the Prophet

The prophet goes on to explain to the Israelites what lies at the root of their emptiness: “You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.” (Haggai 1:9)

It is important to look at the word that the Hebrews used for house (Bayith)—as in the house of the Lord. It was not so much a place, as a people, a community of people. In fact, the strictest definition of God’s house implied providing a community where children could live in the safety and intimacy of God.

Why were the Israelites experiencing such a cold emptiness in their lives? Because they were focusing on their own ‘more’ and ‘bigger’ instead of building a community where children would learn what it felt like to be loved by God’s people.

Jesus makes a similar comparison when he said that the role of the church is to be prophetic, to alleviate injustice, to support those who are being prophetic and alleviating injustice, and to provide Bayith—a cup of cold water—to the least, little ones that were brought to their community. That is it—that is all. That is church to Jesus. No spectators, no commentators.

Our time is filled with strange dichotomies. Denominational religions are losing ground in America, while neural Buddhism and scientific transcendence are on the rise. People are looking for transcendence and saying that science and eastern mysticism provide more.

However—and this is of critical import—Christianity is not about transcendence. Jesus uses two models of perfection in the Gospels, one involves loving those who hate us and the other involves selling all we have, giving our money to the poor, and following him.

This is not a Gospel of transcendence or bigness. This is a Gospel of consumptive liberation. Give and forgive, until you are free. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Evangelical Simplicity

In our education outreach with schools and detained youth, we teach the following financial goal: how do I live a simple life where I am not worried more about my possessions and my debt than I am about my relationships and living a meaningful life?

With adults, we refer to this as evangelical simplicity, choosing to live simply as an example of Christ’s love for all people. How pressing is this? We live in a country that spends an average of seven percent of its income on food. Other parts of the world spend up to seventy percent. We have wars and food riots breaking out around the globe that are tied to our consumptive patterns of energy. The future or our young people will rest upon their ability to find joy and purpose in living simpler and gentler.

What Can We Do?

Lead by example. Model evangelical simplicity in our own consumer patterns. Highlight the difference between the false gods of self-transcendence or personal happiness as a goal for a meaningful life and Christ’s image of perfection. Talk to young people, relatives, and friends about the liberating patterns of a simple life.

Having traveled around the world, I realize that many of us do not consider ourselves akin to the rich, young prince who broke our Lord’s heart by choosing more and bigger over the perfection proffered by Jesus. Yet, the truth is, if I have spare change in my pocket, on my dresser, or in a coin jar, I am richer than the majority of people in this world. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once said, “The rich must live more simply so that the poor may simply live.”

Can we move from more and bigger to evangelical simplicity? Peace, in our children’s world, may very well depend upon it.

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More information about OneFamily Outreach is available on the OneFamily Outreach website.