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Monday Muse – How Much is Enough?
Posted on May 11th, 2009 in Faith, Monday Muse by Fred McKinnon
Hello Everyone,
Hope your weekend was great. Today’s “muse” is simply, “How Much is Enough?”
The question this morning is inspired from my reading in Genesis 33:11, where Jacob returns to Esau …
11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. Thus he urged him, and he took it. (Gen 33:11, ESV, YouVersion.Com, emphasis mine)
There is a lot of trash that is taught in the name of “prosperity”. Unfortunately, that very trash has made “prosperity” a bad word for many Christians. I for one believe that God’s desire is for us to prosper so that we can be a blessing to others.
In this case, Jacob blesses his brother Esau. Maybe his motives weren’t pure .. perhaps he was trying to save his skin with a bribe … but he simply says “I have enough”.
How much is enough? Do you have enough?
I’ll never forget realizing how dumb it was for me to spend nearly $250/month between my cable, internet, and cell phone bill. It was then that I realized “I have more than enough” and took my first steps to sponsoring a child in poverty through Compassion International. Maybe you can do the same thing today?
Think about this question, and post your comment – “how much is enough”?
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7 Responses to “Monday Muse – How Much is Enough?”
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I agree with you, Brother! I believe God wants to bless us with riches, but not in the way that too many evengelicals believe. I believe the reason more Christians aren’t blessed with riches is because they will consume it on their own lusts.
I often think that I don’t have enough. In many areas I don’t. But when I look at others around me, I see that I am more than blessed. We too often compare our “stuff” with those who have “plenty”, instead of those who won’t ever have a fraction of what we have.
My family has sponsored a child with Compassion, too. It was just a way to “honor” the realization that we are blessed. The monthly amount is sometimes a stretch for me, but it’s well worth it.
Post-note? Most folks that I know that seem to be “blessed” with “riches” . . . are not happy.
Good insights, Robert …
BTW – I had no clue that ya’ll sponsored a Compassion child, I’m so proud of you. I’ve just become a Compassion Advocate “officially”. What’s the child’s name, and where is the child from?
Interesting, and nicely deep. Today, for some reason, I’ve been wrestling with our apparent entitlement as Americans: “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These are self-evident, inalienable rights for us, no?
With that in mind, it’s not really surprising that no one can get “enough.” We were trained to think that we’re entitled to more stuff, because it’s assumed that “stuff” will make us happier. At the very least, we feel we should pursue it, just in case that’s the answer.
The crazy thing is that when/if we question something like this — we consider it an issue of patriotism, I think — and put it alongside Scripture, we’re regarded at nut-cases if we notice that they don’t match up. That poses a real problem, and it’s eerily Biblical. The world (hopefully that’s not “America”) will persecute us for the sake of Christ.
Your Nut-Case,
Dean
Fred, I honestly don’t remember her name. I chose her because she has Julia’s Birthday. I know she’s in the Honduras, though.
We plan on taking a family pic soon and sending her a letter about once a month.
Great thought to start the week off Fred.
One thing I have found is that as long as I am trusting God to meet my needs, and being a good steward of what I do have, I always have enough (regardless of my financial situation). However, when I transfer that trust to myself to “handle it”, I find myself always in lack, no matter how good my income may be.
On a side note, this doesn’t’ just apply to finances. It works the same with relationships, work, and even time management.
Thanks for the reminder.
Hmmmm–many months there is barely enough to get my bills paid, but I, to, sponsor a child through Compassion International–her name is Dennis Alexia Barragan Govea and she lives in Mexico. I also give to a couple of other ministries because I know the importance of giving into others. Could I use that money somewhere else–sure; but the moment I place more value on my money or my stuff than on the kingdom, I have stepped into idolatry. Would my life be more comfortable if I knew that every month I would have more than I needed–perhaps–but then would I become complacent in my faith and begin to rely on myself and my strength rather than on the Lord? More than enough is quite relative–for Dennis and the other compassion children, we are millionaires in their eyes. Do you have a roof over your head and food and clothing? Then anything above that is more than enough.
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