Tao Bible - Isaiah 61:6

Trey Smith

But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
~ King James version ~

Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing.
Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple, their homes secure;
They are happy in their ways.
Though they live within sight of their neighbors,
And crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way,
Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die.
~ from Verse 80 of the Tao Te Ching ~

One of the things about the Christianity of the Old Testament that has always irked me is this idea that, if the people will throw in their lot with Yahweh, then they will prosper materially. It is a very earthly pitch and seems to fly in the face of their spiritual premises.

Contrast this theme to the one offered by Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi. They stress the simple and uncomplicated life, not one of riches and glory. It's hard to be humble when we can't learn the lesson that enough is sufficient.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.