And every day, being constantly in the temple with one accord, and breaking bread in [the] house, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people; and the Lord added [to the assembly] daily those that were to be saved. Acts 2:46-47
“And now hearken to me, my children, and walk in simplicity of heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord. The simple covets not gold, defrauds not his neighbour, longs not after manifold dainties, delights not in varied apparel, does not picture to himself to live a long life, but only waits for the will of God, and the spirits of error have no power against him. For he cannot allow within his mind a thought of female beauty, that he should not pollute his mind in corruption. No envy can enter into his thoughts, no jealousy melts away his soul, nor does he brood over gain with insatiate desire; for he walks in uprightness of life, and beholds all things in simplicity, not admitting in his eyes malice from the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord.”
Testament of Issachar 5.4 (second century BC).
Why quote from another one of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs? It provides another colorful sampling of the literature that influenced the behavior of the early church, which was largely comprised of Jews.
Notice the person with simplicity of heart is focused on the Lord rather than gold, material possessions, lustful desires, envy, jealousy, and personal gain. We also find wise counsel to avoid the modern idol of “building a big retirement” in this text in the expression “does not picture himself to live a long life.” All these desires are perversions of good things.
In Acts of the Apostles, Luke describes the early church as exhibiting this simplicity of heart. When they do, their lives reflect gladness and generosity, oneness and worship, and many come to faith. Want your church to grow in these traits in 2016? Nurture simplicity of heart, that is, encourage everyone to “wait for the will of God” and focus only on “all that is well-pleasing to the Lord.”