Chapel Series: ‘Rest’ and hedgetrimmers

Continuing our Chapel series on rest, we recently looked at the concept of simplicity.

We may initially think that simplifying our schedules is what helps us to rest. Whilst this is true, it wasn’t our focus. Instead we asked the question: what if we simplified the way we engage with our material goods?

Let me unpack that.

I have hedges in our front yard. They need trimming about four times a year. So, naturally, I bought a battery operated hedge trimmer from Bunnings. It only cost $229. It’s so good. It only takes two hours to cut those hedges into shape.

However, the thing about my hedge trimmer is: I didn’t just pay the cost financially. In fact, I’m continuing to pay a cost in other ways. I have to maintain it. I have to store it. I have to learn how to use it. I have to replace parts when they break. It also occupies space in my mind as I need to worry about the hedges and all these things. Oh, and I have to use it.

What’s the problem with this?

Well, all of these things cost me time.

I have less time. And when I have less time, I feel more rushed and hurried. The more hurried I feel, the less rested I am. And that’s just a hedge trimmer! I didn’t tell you about my e-bike, coffee machine, spa, or golf clubs!

In Matthew 5, Jesus says that we cannot serve God and mammon. Now, mammon is a foreign word to us. It can mean money, but it also includes wealth and things. Material things, in fact. These material things cause us to worry, and they often have power over us. Jesus is saying that we can either give our power to God, or give our power to things. He says we cannot serve both masters. He couldn’t be clearer. However, I have many moments where I catch myself saying: “I think I can serve both”. And when I do, I accidently let the worry of mammon rule my life.

So … what if we simplified the material things we own? If we could (or would), perhaps we would worry less? We may have more time? We may even feel less hurried and more rested?

When we put it like that, simplicity sounds like it’s worth a shot.