The publish day for this post is Labor Day. That’s a pretty ironic name for the day, isn’t it? As a national holiday, many people are given the day off even though it’s called “Labor Day.” Even so, it is a day that allows many to pause.

In Scripture, God gave his people a day to pause each week. In the Old Testament, the day was the seventh day of the week (Saturday). In the New Testament, the day was the first day of the week (Sunday). As a matter of fact, if you’re able, join us for worship at Wilkesboro Baptist on Sunday September 13. I will highlight a particular “Lord’s Day” reference from Revelation 1. The day God gave us for worship and rest is a day to pause normal labors. If you are off your regular schedule of work on Monday, September 7 and reading this, then look at today as a day of pause. If you are reading this another day, then set aside Sunday to pause for worship and rest.

We should pause for worship and rest weekly because God commanded it, because he gives it as a blessing, and because the value of simplicity encourages it.

The simplicity value invites us to slow down our pace of living, set aside distractions, and invest in others relationally. A literary picture for this value comes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s description of a hobbit from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Hobbits are smallish creatures who live in houses in the ground. They love food, singing, and staying close to home. In Tolkien’s lore, they embrace a simple lifestyle that enjoys life and celebrates friends and family. They have an aptitude for courage and loyalty.

The Simplicity Motto is actually a quote from one of Tolkien’s characters in The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf, the wise wizard who led the fellowship on a journey fraught with danger said to Frodo the hobbit:

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

Many of us are fretful and worried folks. We’re afraid of what we don’t know, worried about what might happen, and frustrated by what’s going on around us. Too many of us (me included) are guilty of borrowing worry. So much of what we worry about never happens. Some studies actually show that 85% or more of what we worry about never happens.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” We don’t have to figure out what is someone else’s responsibility. We don’t have to gossip or fret or live in fear. We simply are responsible for the decision of today.

Ask yourself this question. If I set aside every worry and fear that has run through my mind today, and just lived simply, what would I be doing? Simple living could be described as building Hobbit habits. Let me suggest a few habits drawn from Hobbits that will help us live more simply.

• Slow down. Tolkien’s books were adapted into films, some of which are better than others. (The Lord of the Rings trilogy is excellent; The Hobbit trilogy less so). The books span much more time than the films. But book and film invite one to consider the slower pace of life in the Shire (where the Hobbits live). Our youngest son reminds us to slow down. My wife and I, along with our oldest, are type A, get it done, make a list people. My youngest is not. He reminds us that it’s ok to slow down, take a breath, and not have to do something all the time. May I commend a day/time for you to pause, slow down, rest.
• Enjoy life. Hobbits enjoyed food and drink, celebration and friends, and laughter and song. They created opportunities to eat meals and to enjoy life. God gave us our lives and the world around us to enjoy, not merely to use. Slow down long enough today to simply enjoy part of life.
• Be generous. Hobbit birthdays are spent giving gifts to others rather than receiving gifts. Usually the gifts were trinkets or something with sentimental meaning, but nevertheless, the gift was for others rather than self. At Christmas, Jesus’ birthday celebration, we give gifts to others and not to him even though greatest gift came wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. God has been exceedingly generous with us. Simplicity invites generosity by setting aside things to share with others.

Some of us must work on Labor Day. Others of us will get our regular labors off and do some other kind of work on this day. Either way, we’ll be back at regular labors soon enough. As you do, let Paul’s direct and simple instruction guide you. When we work diligently, we can help others and be generous:

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
– Acts 20:35

Hobbits would have loved Labor Day. They would have turned it into a community celebration instructing everyone to slow down, enjoy life, and give to others.

May we learn to live a little more like Hobbits, a little more simply.

Photo by Andres Iga on Unsplash