The third voice in this series of thoughtful people is Jim Branch, author of the Blue Book and other books, challenging us that this season may be teaching us less is more.
If I have learned anything in these last few months of quarantine and pandemic, it’s that more is not better. It’s just not. But, unfortunately, we live in a culture that says it is. We live in a world that is addicted to more. But my guess is that in the past few months, where more has not been an option, the value of less has kind of snuck up on us, surprised us, and maybe even delighted us. In fact, in many ways we might have actually discovered that less is more. Less work means more quality time to be with those who are nearest and dearest to us. Less activity means more conversation, rest, and reflection. Less frenzy and chaos and hurry means more peace and joy and contentment.
But what happens when things finally get back to normal? Do we jump right back in to our “more is better” mentality? Or do we take the lessons that less has taught us and weave them into the fabric of our lives? Do we proceed in a different way and at a different pace and with a different perspective, or do we mindlessly plunge back in to the demands and busyness and hurry?
“It is for freedom that Christ has set you free,” Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1. “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” What if the last few months were about bringing freedom? What if the last few months were an opportunity to experience a different way, so that each of us might choose to proceed differently? What if God is trying to get our attention, as a people and as a culture, and say, “More is not better. See! Less is the better, deeper, and more live-giving way. Choose less. Don’t allow the desire for more to rule over you. Don’t allow it to make you its slave once again. Because the constant pursuit of more will actually make you less; and doing less, will actually help you to become more. Everything is topsy-turvy in the kingdom of God.”
The only question is, will we choose freedom, or will we choose bondage? Whether we believe it or not, the choice really is up to us.
Jim Branch is an ordinary guy who longs to live a life of extraordinary depth and quality. He is a fellow journeyer and pilgrim, just trying his best to understand daily the depths of God's great love and affection. He has been in ministry for over thirty years, eighteen of those with Young Life, and loves seeing people of all ages come to know Jesus in the most intimate way possible. He is married to Carol and they have three incredible adult children: Tim, Michelle, and Hunter. You can sign up for his blog here.