Get Your Simple On!

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

~Matthew 5:33-37

 

 I like things that are simple.  That's not to say that I like things that don't challenge me to think, but I do like simple things.  

I was called to be a witness in court not too long ago, and I was instructed that I must take an oath given to me by the Judge.  "Do you promise to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God."  After my part was over, I started thinking about what Jesus said.  Jesus, in case you haven't figured it out yet, was all about SIMPLE!

In fact, He specifically tells us that we should keep our answers simple: "Just say a simple 'Yes, I will' or 'No, I won't' because anything more than that is of the devil.  Imagine how different our own little part of the world would be different if we kept things just that simple!  

 

"Honey, did you eat the last doughnut?"  

"Yes"

"Are you supposed to have doughnuts?"

"No"

"So you're going to exercise a little extra today to work off that doughnut?"

"Ummmm......no."

Simple!  Confucius has been credited with saying, "Life is simple...it is WE who complicate it."  I do believe there's quite a lot of truth in that!