What is “enough”? You wonder, which “enough” are we talking about?

 

Enough stuff? Closets overflowing into garages, rented storage spaces stacked to the ceiling “until we need it.” Our lives can get so full of stuff, And we’re so busy taking care of it, we don’t have enough time… to know the joy of simplicity: a quiet moment watching the sun set, time spent listening to our children, or our aging parents.

 

How do we know when it’s “enough” ?

 

I attended a conference on leadership some years ago, and what I remember best from those days spent with other pastors is our conversation about how easy it is to want what we see others acquiring. It’s easy to even crave these things: cars and homes and vacations, home furnishings, leisure time activities.

 

One of us called it “keeping up with the Joneses” but the leader disagreed. “It’s more wanting the lifestyle of Hollywood stars or professional athletes,” he told us, even if it’s not realistic given our lives and income. We assume that if we want it, we deserve it, and we should have it.

 

It’s like shopping with a small child who sees something, wants to have it, and pitches a fit if she doesn’t get it. I took Jake, who is 4, to the bookstore last evening. It was across the street from where we were eating and his mother, Samantha, was unable to enjoy her dinner because he was restless, so I suggested we go check out the sale books - the ones with the white dots on them. We carefully walked across the busy street while I told him that he could choose any book on sale and, with Mom’s approval, I would buy it. Any 1 book.

 

I glanced through the other sale books while Jake was checking out the children’s section. He would come to me with each selection, ask if that one was o.k., and we would take a look. When it was time to go, Jake had 5 big books in his arms. He could barely carry them all, but he stood there holding them tightly while I reminded him of the 1 book rule. He put one down and asked if he could get 4 books, and so it went. When he had narrowed it down to 1 large book, “The Ice Age,” we called Mom to check it out, and she approved it. Jake was happy, easily carrying his 1 large book out of the store, ready to show it to Grandpa.

 

Many Christmases ago when his mother, Samantha, was 7 or 8, she was deeply immersed in opening her Christmas gifts. Sitting in the middle of wrapping paper and ribbons, she’d open one gift, inspect it, yell “thanks,” then grab another gift and open it. When she had opened her last gift, she looked around to see if there were more. “I just can’t stop this opening business!” she shouted.

 

When we feel that way, we go shopping. Maybe it’s online, maybe it’s to an actual store. Either way, it give us a lift to have something to open,some new item to enjoy, then put in storage until we need it.  “We just can’t stand this opening business!”

 

Lots of us don’t have enough: enough faith, that is, that God is with us in an active, “saving us” kind of way; faith that God fills our lives with joy and blessing.

 

“New every morning is your love, great God of light,

 

and all day long you are working for good in the world.”

 

(From Morning Prayer, UMHymnal #876)

 

The world has gone crazy, it seems.

 

Health care for all – a socialist plot? President Obama can’t talk to our school children? Hundreds of millions of $$ in bonuses, after a bail out? By what rules are we living?

 

We have 2 rules in the “Enough” study that I want you to remember:

 

1. This is about you: the readings, the study, small groups, the sermons; The financial tools you’ll be given are to help you order your finances in a more manageable way.

 

2. Let me tell you what it’s not about: it’s not about your sister, or your brother, not about your father, or your mother. It’s not even about your next door neighbor or your pew mate this morning.

 

Do not judge that you be not judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. (Matthew 7:1,2)

 

“Enough” is about you, you and the people with whom you share finances, and the management thereof. Do you remember the bumper sticker? "The One With the Most Toys Wins." Not true. There will never be enough toys. Someone will always have a new one, and you’ll want it. There is a spiritual issue beneath our wanting more, our fear of not having enough.

 

We need a heart change. “New every morning is your love, great God of light.” In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” It’s all about God, all the blessings we have as gift from God, and how we live our grateful response by sharing what we have with others.

 

Here’s a challenge: this week, track your spending. Write it down, each time you spend money,

 

and include how much you spent and what you bought.

 

Here’s another challenge: this week, think about your financial goals. What do you want your money to do for you? Money is your tool, not your life. How do you want to use it?

 

How does God want you to use it?

 

Stay tuned…more help is on the way.

 

Thanks be to God!