Simplify. Un-clutter. Organize. Often, in order to enjoy life, we need to get rid of all the extra “stuff” and get down to the “irreducible minimum”. That is especially true in pursuing a relationship with God. No unnecessary baggage or rules; no middle-man; no meaningless rituals or outdated tradition.
The prophet Micah, in the Old Testament Jewish Scripture, pointed people to the irreducible minimum: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Jesus came for the purpose of setting people free (especially from religion) so we could enjoy a real and personal relationship with our Creator. Jesus was all about the irreducible minimum, too, and boiled everything—The Law of Moses, the Prophets…all of scripture—down to two things: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
This was Jesus answer to the direct question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?" But then there was a follow up question: "Who, exactly, is my neighbor?" Jesus answered that question with a story—the story of “the Good Samaritan”. The unexpected hero was the outcast who did for a victimized man of a different race what religious leaders of his own ethnicity wouldn’t do for him.
Jesus calls us to be “neighborly” to everyone. Everyone. So show mercy to the guy next door, the foreigner, even your enemies.
The irreducible minimum comes down to relationship. Love God and the people He created; all people. No favoritism. No selective love. Love even when it costs—especially when it costs you something. Sacrificial love. As we learn to love God with our whole beings we also begin to love people to the degree that He loves people.
The irreducible minimum. No more, no less. Even that is impossible without a heart change and Divine empowerment.
~ Father, I can’t even hit the low mark on my own power. Thank you for your sacrificial love. Help me to love others the way you have loved me. Amen.
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