Not Too Hard

“Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you . . . "

 - From Deuteronomy 30

The saying, quoted above, was not a direct word from the Lord God. These are Moses' own words. He is encouraging the people. Or maybe admonishing them. They were like us. Moses had given them a few commandments from God, and Moses knew, he just knew, that they would complain.

And he was right. They did complain. They whined. Perhaps they were offended. Maybe it got in the way of their time with their games and playlists. They were partial to their vices and selfish thoughts. 

"It's too hard for us. Why can't God just take care of us, no matter what we do or think?" (Actually, that's exactly what He does).

And yet . . . people pursue their bucket lists with a religious fervor. They'll read every New York Times best-selling self-help book they can get their hands on. But God's Word is too inconvenient, or hard, for them.

I encounter this all the time, in working with youth. There was a fourth grader once, that only had to write four or five sentences about what he did over the weekend, in order to complete an assigned task. He sat at his desk for 45 minutes, looking at the paper, and didn't write even a letter. 

What is this about us? If the Fountain of Youth were discovered outside Barrow, Alaska, waves of millions of people would brave the climate and terrain to get there. They would spare no expense, and exert whatever it takes, to get there.

Yet, they won't get their eternal life through a simple act of faith.

God's commandments really aren't hard. Love one another? Really? That's all? 

Don't lie? What's wrong with that?

Don't steal? What serious person has a problem with that?

Take care of the old, the sick, the young, the traveler? (These are dignified words that God uses for these people. The world calls them "the weak"). Now, it may be taxing so to care for others. But, really, why would we argue about this?

God's plan is not too hard. 

Give me a break.