Sabbath + Simplicity

Sabbath is an essential practice in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Few practices push against the current of our culture like Sabbath. In a culture of overwork, hustle, and chronic busyness we tend to overlook the created order (Exod. 20:11). Because of this, Sabbath has become a radically counter-cultural practice in the lives of followers of Jesus.

Sabbath is a 24-hour period of rest. On Sabbath, we cease from work to delight in and celebrate the good gifts of creation. Sabbath is part of the created order, was practiced by God himself at creation, is one of the 10 commandments, was practiced by Jesus, and a is gift to be enjoyed.

Genesis 2:2-3 — By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Deuteronomy 5:15 — Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Mark 2:27-28 — Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

In addition to keeping the Sabbath, we have included three weeks of practicing simplicity. In many ways, this goes hand-in-hand with Sabbath. Simplicity and Sabbath push against the cultural belief that more is better and that the way to the good life is attained by accumulating more. Jesus taught his disciples that true life comes not from self-indulgence, but self-sacrifice (Matt. 16:24-26).

So what is simplicity? Simplicity is living below your means for the sake of others. It’s about simplifying your schedule and possessions to have the capacity for more. Simplicity is not about living a life of less. It’s about getting the excess out of the way so we can say yes to the life we long to live (John 10:10). It’s about simplifying our lives to have the capacity for love and generosity.