Spiritual Habits: SIMPLICITY, Sermon3

Week 3: SIMPLICITY, Matthew 6:19 - 21

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

In a culture consumed by consumerism and excess, simplicity is a radical counter-cultural choice that fosters spiritual clarity and freedom. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:19-21 to prioritize treasures in heaven rather than earthly possessions, for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Today, we will reflect on the value of simplicity, examining how decluttering our lives from unnecessary distractions enables us to focus on what truly matters: loving God and serving others.

Slide one. SIMPLICITY

Introduction

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been building a spiritual foundation—first through prayer, our daily lifeline to God, and then through Scripture, the living Word that, shapes and transforms us.

These habits help us hear from God and align our lives with His will. But what happens when our lives are so full—of stuff, noise, busyness, distractions—that we can’t even hear His voice?

That’s where this week’s habit of simplicity comes in.

In our world, more is often seen as better. More stuff. More options. More hustle. But Jesus invites us into something radically different—a life of intentional focus, spiritual clarity, and freedom from the pull of materialism and distraction.

In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus says: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Simplicity isn’t about decluttering for decluttering’s sake. It’s about clearing away what doesn’t matter so we can focus on what does. It’s about trading clutter for clarity, hurry for peace, and earthly treasure for eternal value.

Today, we’re going to explore how simplicity is not just a lifestyle choice—it’s a spiritual discipline. A door to a fuller, freer, more focused life in Christ.

Slide two. Simplicity Begins with the Heart

Matthew 6:19–21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Simplicity isn’t just about cleaning out your closet or buying less stuff. It’s first and foremost a heart issue. Jesus points this out clearly: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In other words, your heart will always follow what you value most.

If we value possessions, money, recognition, or comfort—our hearts will be wrapped up in those things. And over time, they begin to own us.

But if we value God’s Kingdom, if we prioritize eternal things—then our hearts will begin to align with what truly matters. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Think of simplicity as the act of clearing away the clutter so our hearts can stay focused.

Paul echoed this in 1 Timothy 6:6–7, saying: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

If that’s true… Nothing in and nothing out… Then what really matters? What’s the most important thing in a world filled with things? Simplicity Begins with the Heart

Slide three. Simplicity Creates Space for What Matters Most

Luke 10:41–42 “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” 

The truth is: Simplicity frees us—from anxiety, comparison, and distraction. It makes room for peace. For purpose. For God. It’s no wonder that simplicity has been a centuries-old spiritual discipline, one that still challenges and shapes us today.

And perhaps one of the clearest pictures of this comes from a small home in Bethany—where two sisters welcomed Jesus in.

Martha was busy with all the preparations. She was doing good things—serving, hosting, working. But she was also overwhelmed, anxious, and distracted.

Mary, on the other hand, simply sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. And Jesus says,

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

Here’s the lesson: Simplicity isn’t just about what we remove. It’s about what we make room for.

Martha was doing all the right things—but her heart was cluttered with many things. Mary chose the one thing that mattered most: being with Jesus.

When we practice simplicity, we say no to hurry and yes to the presence of God. We say no to consumerism and yes to contentment. We say no to spiritual noise and yes to the voice of God.

In a world that tells us to do more, have more, be more, Jesus invites us to abide—to sit at His feet, to listen, to rest IN him. Simplicity Creates Space for What Matters Most

Slide four. Simplicity Opens the Way to Eternal Priorities

Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

As we’ve learned, simplicity isn’t only about shedding clutter; it’s about creating room in our lives for what truly matters. When we strip away the unnecessary, we reveal the heart of God’s calling: to focus on eternal treasures rather than fleeting possessions.

The discipline of simplicity recalibrates our priorities. It frees us from the grip of anxiety, comparison, and distraction, allowing our hearts to focus on God’s greater purpose. In a world that bombards us with messages of “more”—more wealth, more status, more things—the call of Scripture is clear. Jesus invites us to seek first the kingdom of God. When we do so, our perspective shifts entirely.

The Apostle Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV): “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This verse reminds us that our ultimate investment should be in what endures. Simplicity helps us let go of the chase after temporary gain so that we can invest in the eternal. By focusing on what truly matters, we allow God to do His work within us—transforming our desires, renewing our minds, and redrawing our priorities.

Similarly, in Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV), Paul urges: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

This teaching shows that a simple, uncluttered heart is one that can naturally extend itself to serve others. When our lives aren’t preoccupied with accumulating more things for ourselves, we can more easily embrace humility, generosity, and service.

When we embrace simplicity in this way, we experience true freedom. Not freedom in the sense of lack, but freedom from the chaos of our culture—freedom to live purposefully, to love abundantly, and to serve selflessly.

This is how Jesus lived, and this is how He calls us to follow His example.

Conclusion

The call to simplicity isn’t about having less for the sake of less—it’s about making space for what matters most. It’s about releasing the grip of materialism so we can take hold of eternal treasures. It’s about creating room for peace… for purpose… for God.

In this series, we’ve talked about building spiritual habits—doors to a fuller life with God. We began with prayer: a conversation that connects us to the heart of the Father. Then we turned to Scripture: the living Word that speaks, anchors, and transforms us into the image of Christ.

And today, we’ve seen how simplicity clears the path. It frees us from distractions, reorders our hearts, and sets us on a course to seek first the Kingdom of God.

So this week, take a courageous step:

Simplify your schedule. Simplify your space. Simplify your heart. And in doing so, make room for the One thing that matters most.

Challenge of the Week:

Choose one area of your life to simplify this week. It could be your closet, your calendar, your tech habits, or even your spending. Whatever it is, ask God:

“What’s getting in the way of my focus on You?”  Then take one intentional step to remove that barrier.

And as you do, don’t just remove—replace. Replace the noise with stillness. Replace the clutter with clarity. Replace the hurry with the presence of God.

Micah 6:8  And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

Next week, we’ll wrap up this series with one final spiritual habit—community—and discover how life together with others is essential to living a full, faithful life with Jesus.

You won’t want to miss it.

Let’s pray together. Lord, we confess that we so often fill our lives with things that don’t last. Help us to simplify—not just to make life easier, but to make room for You. Reorder our hearts. Refocus our desires. Teach us what it means to seek first Your Kingdom and trust that all else will follow.

What does Matthew 6:19-21 teach us about the nature of our treasures?

How can simplicity serve as a counter-cultural choice in our modern lives?