Perhaps you have heard the story about the preacher who was delivering a deep theological sermon one day when his wife scribbled a note on a piece of paper, folded it up, and handed it to the usher who delivered it to the pastor while he was preaching. The pastor saw on the note the word “KISS.” He thought that was nice of his wife to send a love note while he was preaching and it distracted him momentarily, but he got back into that deep theological subject. It wasn’t long until she pulled out another piece of paper, scribbled on it, and handed it to the usher, and he delivered it again. Once more, it was the same word “KISS.” The pastor thought it was nice, but surely she could wait until after the service was over! He tried to get back into the subject, but before the sermon concluded, she wrote another such note and delivered it to him. Afterward he said to her, “Honey, I appreciate your feelings and thoughtfulness, but surely you could refrain from sending me kisses until I am through preaching.” She said, “Kisses? KISS doesn’t mean kisses. It means Keep It Simple, Stupid.”
There is a need for the preacher to keep it simple. But that same need for simplicity is in every area of life. Even in our faith and our relationship to the Lord, the more we can simplify, the better life becomes.