city life vs. country life

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (Revelation 3:20).

People have always been divided over which kind of life is better—life in the city, or life in the country.

Life in the city can be exciting. City life includes parades, concerts, and Community Theater. There are many choices for shopping and dining out. It’s easy to meet someone new and interesting, whether it be at a bar, a fine arts exhibit, or a museum. City life also makes things easier. If you need an ingredient for a recipe or run out of aspirin, there are stores close by that are open 24 hours a day. If there’s an emergency, you can get a responder to your home in minutes.

Country life offers a completely different set of advantages. You have privacy. You have quiet—no sirens in the night, no rumble of constant traffic. You have a clear view of the sky and landscape. You only have a few neighbors, and you know each of them quite well. When you go for a walk, you can enjoy flowers and butterflies. You can wander outside after dark, and not have to worry about being alone.

But city life and country life both have their drawbacks. In the city crime rates are higher. In the city, there are problems with noise and litter and air pollution. In the country, you have a longer wait for help to arrive, whether it be law enforcement, medical care, or fire protection. In the country, you can be isolated by snowstorms or flooding.

But I don’t think you can claim one lifestyle is better than the other. Some great men of God lived in the country—Abraham, for example. Other people of God, like Rahab, preferred the city life. And some practiced both lifestyles at one time or another. John the Baptist grew up in a city, but spent most of his adult life living off the land. David started life as a shepherd, but as a king he ruled Israel from a palace in Jerusalem.

Jesus used the rural lifestyle as a backdrop for many of His teachings. He identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, who is committed to the welfare of His flock—that flock being us. But Jesus also embraced city life. In fact, He describes the kingdom of heaven as a vast and glorious city, a place where God’s children can live together forever in perfect happiness. City or country, anywhere can be a great place to live, so long as Jesus is welcome in your home.