Simplicity II

Fortunately, the bible is short on process. I say fortunately, because there must be a good reason why.

So, when we come across a command, how do we know how to follow it? Do we need to struggle for the moral basis of the command and try to follow the principle? For example, Jesus tells his disciples to simplify radically by selling all their possessions and giving the money to the poor. Did Peter and the other disciples sell everything? I know they left everything. I assume they just parked their boats and nets. What other possessions might they have had that they would need to sell? They didn’t have TV, 5.1 surround sound, cars, game consoles, cable, newspaper subscriptions, GPS’s, or XR 650’s. What else is there?

I suppose they could buy some handcrafted knife, sword, crossbow, or spear. I imagine they had the equivalent to a designer tunic or sandals back then. Perhaps some had pigs, goats, horses, donkeys, chickens, or some other kind of productive animals. Some probably had land and a house. Some probably had an abundance of crops. Perhaps one had a strong ox and plow; maybe some cherry clay pots or some vintage wine. Possibly, they had some nice wine skins or animal pelts. I don’t know, but maybe some had pimped out chariots or wagons, or conceivably the 1st century equivalent of a barefoot boat.

Sell it all? I don’t think so. Last I read they had clothes on. At times, they travelled by boat, although this does not mean that one of them owned it. Didn’t Jesus go to different houses? Didn’t Mary, Martha, and Lazarus have a house? Certainly, Jesus’ family had a house. Peter had a sword to cut off the soldier’s ear. The waited in someone's upper room. I would conclude that sell it all does not mean all.

What seems clear is that relative to their culture, they lived more simply, humbly, unemcubered, and unpretentious. It seemed to work for them.