GENEralities

Enough is enough, they say. That’s what I’ve been thinking, preaching and blogging about for the last few weeks.

It all started on August 5th. Our Sunday Gospel was about the rich guy (God calls him a fool) who decided that he had arrived. He had accumulated enough stuff to be able to relax, eat, drink and be merry. God had other plans for him, however. In telling the story, Jesus gives two warnings about enough: first, take care, be on our guard against being greedy for more stuff, for life is not about how much stuff we have, second, to lay up treasure for oneself and not be rich toward God is foolish.

As if that wasn’t enough, the following Sunday we heard the passage about considering the lilies, seeking first God’s kingdom, selling our possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor, and about our hearts being where are treasure is.

Some thoughts on enough:

First, we may be tempted to think God is being mean on this point. In Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard points out that God is not mean, but He is dangerous. If eleven of the thirty-nine parables Jesus told are about money and possessions, we would be well-advised to take the matter seriously.

Second, in Money, Possessions and Eternity, Randy Alcorn suggests that we North American rich folk are not being called to a vow of poverty, rather to a vow of generosity; being rich in good deeds and quick to share our stuff for Jesus’ sake.

Third, Harry Wendt, who developed the Crossways Bible Study program wrote, “There’s no such thing as Christian giving, there’s only unchristian keeping.” Sigh.

Fourth, if you’d like to explore ways of cutting back on stuff, check out the 100 Thing Challenge here.

Enough, already.

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