20/20 God’s Vision: Simple.

By Cheri Cochran

“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom.” Matthew 18:3–4

I had no idea what he was doing, but it sure looked like a mess to me. It was the day after Christmas 2004, and my six-year-old son, Drew, was on the living room floor carefully arranging every stuffed animal he owned. We’d been watching the TV coverage of the tsunami in Thailand and its mind-boggling images of destruction when Drew had suddenly retreated to his room, gathered his fluffy livestock, and was now plopping them on the carpet.

“Drew, what are you doing?”

“You see those people on TV, Mom? Lots of those kids don’t have a mommy and daddy anymore, and I want to send them all my animals to make them feel better.” My heart nearly exploded.

Less than a year later, we watched again, horrified at the scene we saw unfolding on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Although they’d only seen a fraction of the news coverage, it was enough for Drew, now seven years old, and our daughter Lindsay, who was five, to take action. They devised a plan to make cookies and sell them to our neighbors to raise money for the Katrina victims who were sheltered in Atlanta. So we did.

Drew and Lindsay’s entire thought process was only to “help the people who are hurting.”

Simple. Uncomplicated. Childlike.

I learned a lesson from my children. Over time, I had allowed serving God by serving others to become far too complicated. We adults have a tendency to do that, don’t we? A friend once remarked that she had the ability to “complexify the simple.” That’s funny, but unfortunately, that’s true for many of us. Human history reflects that most ideas, projects, products, and programs that start out simple become much more complicated over time.

This was true in Jesus’ day, too. The Pharisees had created a complicated system of worship with innumerable rules and regulations for “righteousness.” But in Matthew 18, Jesus brought everything back to the basics with a simple analogy: We must become like a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Salvation is based upon having a simple faith in Jesus and with a humble heart—like a child—believing and trusting that He will do what we cannot. This kind of faith pleases God.

God wants us to serve Him by helping others out of that same humble, grace-based, uncomplicated faith—the kind that my children had. My kids weren’t worried about the “smallness” of their service in light of the overwhelming need. They didn’t measure their resources to that of others. It never crossed their mind that this might not be their “gifting” or that they had no experience with helping in this way. They didn’t compare their efforts to anyone else’s. And they were not compelled by guilt. It was true compassion that moved them to action. Humble. Uncomplicated. Simple.

The story of Jesus feeding 5,000 men plus women and children is recorded in the sixth chapter of John. This wasn’t a tsunami or a hurricane, but there were lots and lots of hungry people with no catering service available or local “drive-thru” nearby. In spite of the obvious need for help, only one boy—a child—stepped out to offer what little he had.

When the disciple Andrew saw what the boy had, he expressed serious doubts about the value of the offering, saying, “Here’s a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. How far will that go among so many?” But Jesus used that boy’s simple act of service to miraculously provide for the mass of people.

That one child couldn’t have been the only person in the crowd who had food with him. There were many mothers that day—and moms always have a snack tucked away somewhere—but they didn’t offer to help. Maybe the boy’s own parents discouraged him, thinking he’d only look like a fool for offering such a small amount in such a large situation. But the boy’s childlike faith, his simple innocence in the time of need, prodded him forward to serve others with what he had. And Jesus did what no one else could with his gift. He did the impossible and fed a crowd of thousands with a meager little meal of five loaves and two fish.

How often have I talked myself out of serving because the need was great, my time was limited, my resources small, or my experience minimal? How often have you and I depreciated what God might want to do through us because “someone else could do it better”? Because what we had didn’t seem like much to offer?

1 Peter 4:10 encourages each of us to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” God’s grace works through us when we love others and are willing to help with “whatever gift” we have. God’s grace works when we make our time, talent, and resources available to help others with a childlike faith that trusts Him to do what we cannot. Simple faith, simple offering, simple service.

What moves your heart with compassion? What can you do to help someone? A home-cooked meal? A shoulder to cry on? Could you offer a warm welcome at the door of your church? Lead a class? A small group? Drive someone to the doctor? Write a note of encouragement? What can you do to help people who are hurting?

Through the compassionate service of my children, I saw the grace of God at work. Childlike serving…it’s that simple.