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Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:5-7, NASB).
T.S. Eliot (the past century poet) described the Christian life as “A condition of complete simplicity, costing not less than everything.”
We witness it with the incarnation of Jesus, who emptied Himself.
A quote that I often use by Corrie Ten Boom reflects this humility, “I have learned to hold onto things loosely because when I hold too tightly, God has to pry them out of my hand, and it hurts.”
I’ve coined my own phrase of “severe simplicity.”
Our giving up our ambitions, careers, pleasures, riches, and even our goals has but one object — replacing the temporal and seductive joys of this world to find the joy that lasts forever.
As the author of Hebrews writes about Jesus. . .
Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
In our culture of despair and joylessness, our energies constantly strive for elusive happiness, with the struggle bringing about more frustration and discouragement. Isn’t it good news knowing that finding joy and its companion peace, all we must do is stop trying?
In Philippians, Paul writes a phrase I’ve considered an incomplete mystery. . .
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am . . . I know how to get along with little . . . I also know how to live in prosperity . . . I have learned the secret of being filled or going hungry (Philippians 4:11-12).
All of this “knowing” and “learning” and “secrets” and then the Great Apostle Paul doesn’t give the original readers of the Book of Philippians, the Christians living since then, and all of us who are depressed today, a list titled “Three Ways to Find Joy.”
He talks about knowing the secret and seemingly doesn’t tell us the secret. I’m going to talk to Paul about this when I see him in heaven.
Instead, Paul writes, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
HHHHMMMHHM!
I’ve realized that we don’t need a list of action points to find joy. We only need Jesus. And to follow the rule of “severe simplicity.”
What are we holding that steals our joy? Giving up what we deem important can be our worst nightmare, but in our crazed, fleshly state of mind, we don’t realize the burden lifted if we just let go.
As one author writes. . .
Simplicity is freedom. Duplicity is bondage. Simplicity brings joy and balance. Duplicity brings anxiety and fear. The preacher of Ecclesiastes observes that “God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising” (Ecclesiastes 7:30, JB).
Severe simplicity is an easy burden that costs everything. Not really a great mystery!