SIMPLICITY

F. S. Marsh

“I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”. So wrote the apostle Paul in the early days of Christianity, and how greatly his fear has been realised is now only too evident; for the day in which we live is one of apostasy and corruption. The minds of many, under the influence of Satan, have departed from the pure and holy simplicity of the word of God.

The confusion of Christendom denotes a terrible mixture instead of uncorrupted simplicity. Men are departing from the living God; the truth of God as set forth in the Holy Scriptures is being publicly denied; the holy service of God is confused with much that is dishonouring to Him and the thoughts even of many believers have been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It will be appreciated that the scriptural meaning of the word “simplicity” is not childishness nor indicative of a lack of mental powers. It is uncorruptedness; singleness of motive; sincerity or freedom from duplicity.

It is important to observe that when a person is described as “simple” in the Book of Proverbs it has a different meaning, for there it indicates that he is foolish, easily led astray, unmindful of snares or void of understanding, but in the New Testament the word “simple” invariably relates to that which is sincere and unmingled with any corrupting element.

What deep meaning there is, therefore, in those words of Jesus, “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single (or simple), thy whole body also is full of light”.

This involves simplicity of purpose, for a person with a single eye would have Christ as his sole object, and the definite purpose of his life would be to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing. As Paul said, his eye fixed on the excellency of the glory of Christ, “One thing I do … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

With this there would also be simplicity concerning evil, for as the thoughts of the believer are preserved under the influence of Christ, so would there be a turning away from evil, as the same apostle wrote, “Yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil”.

It is saddening to observe how many—even children of tender age—are corrupted by the evil influences of the world, its polluted entertainments and defiling books.. On the other hand it is delightful to find those who with the protection of a godly home, under the pure influence of the word of God and the company of the people of God have been preserved in simplicity concerning evil; who are not versed in all the ways of the world, not speaking its corrupt language nor ensnared by its evil pleasures.

Then, too, there is the necessity for simplicity of conduct, for Christianity is much more than doctrines (precious as they are). It is livingly evidenced in the practical lives of Christians, for it is not sufficient for us to be hearers of the word only but doers also; and hence the exhortation of the apostle to the Philippians in his great epistle of Christian conduct, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings—that ye may be blameless (or simple) and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”. To be marked by simplicity is the keynote of conduct that is pleasing to God.

This would develop simplicity of service. How beautiful was the exhortation to the servants that, they should serve “in singleness (or simplicity) of heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men”.

Simplicity is therefore the great secret of true service, for then the heart is governed by one motive only—to do the will of God. Duplicity of motive, such as love of self, or the love of the approval of men, would corrupt the service and spoil its effectiveness and acceptability.

It is as there is wholeheartedness, and a single eye for God’s glory, that simplicity will be maintained, the enemy defeated and the believer preserved from corruption. May we thus value “simplicity” more and more.

From ‘Goodly Words’, 1929

(Quotations are from the Authorised Version)