When Is Enough Enough?
Some years ago, the Sunday morning newspaper listed Saturday’s college football scores. Baylor defeated their opponent 70-7. I am not sure how those points were won, but Baylor’s score was the equivalent of ten touchdowns. Later, I heard of a major league baseball team scoring a record 25 runs. That same season, I watched my favorite baseball team, the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were ahead 11-0. When Kansas City came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, the commentator said, “You can never have enough runs.”
“You can never have enough . . .” Is that true? One of the world’s richest men was being interviewed. He was asked, “How much is enough? When can a person relax and just enjoy life?” The number he suggested as “enough” was more than most of us will earn in our entire lifetime, let alone accumulate. However, he did say no one needs more than three houses. Indeed!
Striving for enough, pushing for more, never being satisfied has become a way of life for many. It is a major source of our anxiety. In church business meetings, I often noticed that the greatest attention was given to the financial report.
No one, and certainly not I, can tell you when you have enough. However, may I suggest this is an area that greatly tests our faith. Can we be good, faithful stewards and not be greedy? Let me make some biblical observations that could be helpful.
After God through Moses led the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery into the wilderness, they feared they would surely starve. God sent manna for them to eat. God said just gather enough for the day; I will send more tomorrow. Fearing God might not send more, some tried to hoard more to be sure they had enough. But the next day, they found it ruined.
Jesus gave two parables showing how greed can easily misguide us. One rich man’s earnings were so good he proposed to make more room to keep it. He died one night soon after and had to leave it all. (Luke 12:16ff) Another rich man “fared sumptuously each day” but failed to help a beggar at his gate. (Luke 16:19)
Most of us can quote The Lord’s Prayer; but did you notice Jesus prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Our bread for today, not necessarily tomorrow. Ouch!
