That’s how our pastor ended the sermon yesterday. After talking about serving like Jesus served, he said, “It’s not complicated. It’s not easy, but it’s not complicated.”
I confess. While everyone else was standing for the closing prayer, I kept writing so I would remember that.
In the class I teach on Sunday mornings and in the small group we’re part of on Saturday nights, we spent time this weekend talking about the command that Jesus repeats from the Old Testament. A teacher says, “So, rabbi, what’s the greatest command?”
It’s a good question, I think. If you want to keep one, it makes sense to know what the biggest one is. If you want to start somewhere in doing what God says to do, it makes sense to know what the biggest one is.
So anyway, the teacher asks.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
It is very possible to take what Jesus says, what he in fact quotes from a couple places in the Old Testament, and to make it very complicated. We can break it down into a study of what the heart is and what the soul is and what the mind is and what the strength is. We can talk about what might count for each of those. We can analyze what Jesus is saying about how the self is divided (or not).
But I’m pretty sure he wasn’t trying for complicated. “Throw yourself completely into loving God. ”
It’s hard, not complicated.
300 words a day 
Frank Reed
Big difference between hard and complicated.
I really wish it were more complicated because then my excuse for doing a bad job would sound better!
Great thoughts. Jon. Peace.
LikeLike
Jon Swanson
I agree Frank.
LikeLike
Rich Dixon
Taking notes about God during prayer–makes sense to me.
One of the main points in my workshop is the difference between simples/complex and simplistic/complicated.
Simple/complex is difficult, long-term, intentional, and responsive. It’s about subtle design and planning.
Simplistic/complicated is the easy, short-term, reactive way–turns Jesus’ ideas into platitudes or lists of rules.
We make Him simplistic or complicated, like we make God in our own image. Then we complain about what we’ve created instead of seeking what He created.
LikeLike
Jon Swanson
Nice differentiation, Rich. We’re going to have to talk.
LikeLike
Tim Sanchez
Simple to comprehend, difficult to put into action. Amazing how much our egos can get in the way.
LikeLike
Pingback: So how do I love God with all my heart? « 300 words a day
Pingback: So how do I love God with all my strength? « 300 words a day
David
To sacrifice is complicated. To obey is (usually) hard.
LikeLike
Pingback: So how do I love God with my whole mind? « 300 words a day
Pingback: Another go at loving God with my mind. « 300 words a day
Aidan
like one step to achieve lots of things and as you would expect the step is big.
me and my dad are using 300 words as R.E. he is homeschooling me. B-)
LikeLike
Jon Swanson
I like your teacher a lot.
Well said. Steps that matter are often big. Though, to be honest, sometimes we don’t know how big they are. Which is really good.
LikeLike
Pingback: Not complicated (a repost) | 300 words a day
Pingback: Back to school, on your own. | 300 words a day