Why do I make things so complicated?

How often do we make something more complicated than it is?  In the financial world where I work, it is often the case that we make things harder than they are.  Maybe it is because we want to appear smarter or to have some advantage.   I think the real issue is that we think it has to be complicated in order for it to be realistic or for it to work. 

I hear the statement “that seems too easy” or “I thought this would be harder” quite often.  What no one in the financial world will tell you is that the general concepts of finance are actually very easy.  We’ve just complicated it with 1,000,000 different ways to build on that foundation.  We’ve actually lost sight of that foundation.

The one room house serves the same purpose as the 12 room house.  One is just bigger and has more area to clean.  Although I do like the idea of a bathroom!

With a work project this week, I’ve started to realize how complicated I can make things.  I fill this life with struggles, injustices, scenarios, expectations…

The reality is I’ve got 2 things to do:

1) Love God with all my heart, strength, soul and mind (Luke 10:27 and Matthew 22:37)

2) Show His love to others to they can know Him (Matthew 28:16-20)

Why do I complicate this?  To love God with all my being takes humility.  If I’m to love Him with all my thoughts, those thoughts cannot be clouded with all my struggles, injustices, scenarios, expectations.  They’ve got to be filled with Him alone.  Same goes for my heart, strength and soul.  If I’m full of all my stuff, how is anyone else going to see Him? 

It’s made complicated because life, this earth, are full of complications.  It’s full of sin.  It’s full of struggle.  It’s full of injustice.  It’s full of scenarios.  It’s full of expectations.  Those are all human.  

Yet, time after time, Christ meets me in my complication.  He shows up despite my expectation or my scenario.  He shows up despite me.  He continually, in the midst of my stuff, shows me unfailing, perfect love.

As I work on this financial project, that is getting more complicated and less applicable, I’m reminded to evaluate myself.  It’s been a great reminder to go back down to the basics and strip away all my complications.