What Is Enough?

So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. Acts 27:38 (NKJV)

Here in the US, we’ve just enjoyed the holiday where we give thanks for all that we have by indulging in more than enough. The one word rarely heard around the Thanksgiving table is “enough.”

There’s no such thing as enough sweet potato casserole, cornbread dressing, pumpkin bread, or pecan pie. Or so we tell ourselves.

When we act as though enough is not enough, we set ourselves up for a shipwreck.

Gratitude and Attitude

In the verse above, Paul was a prisoner on his way to Rome when a storm threatened to destroy their ship. After fourteen days of fighting the tempest, Paul told everyone on board to take some nourishment for it was necessary for their survival (see Acts 27:34). He told them to eat, but first he “gave thanks to God in the presence of them all” (see Acts 27:35).

In the middle of a deadly storm, Paul, a prisoner,  gave thanks to God Rome and directed the way for the two hundred and seventy-six other people on the ship to reach safety.

His shipmates were so encouraged that they had enough faith “they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.”

Are we ever satisfied with enough? Thanksgiving isn’t the only time and place where we consume more than enough?

HEADED FOR A HURRICANE

And all the while our ship keeps sailing into turbulent waters. In the meteorology of life, it’s always hurricane season.

The people on the ship understood they needed to rid themselves the things that were weighing them down. And that include the “more than enough.”

We’ve become a society where enough is never enough, and we are sinking our ship.

We are sinking in debt, poor health, and broken and neglected relationships. We are sinking in chaos, fear, and a deceptive spirit of hatred.

And yet, we continue to hold on while reaching for more. Just a few more appointments on our calendars, a few more dollars spent on things we don’t need, a few more bites of food that is more harmful than nourishing. A few more mind-numbing minutes on social media and a few more reasons to envy or covet what our neighbor has.

FINDING CONTENTMENT BEFORE WE SINK

 The more things we hold onto, the more things hold onto us. More and more and more until we can barely move much less stay on course.

It’s time to do the hard job of jettisoning the excess so we can find freedom in the “enough.”

 What does our enough look like? Have we based that estimation on the truth found in God’s Word? Or have we set our barometer by the gauge our feelings or even worse the feelings of others?

PUMPKIN PIE AND THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

 More than enough things to do on our calendar looks like stress and fatigue, with a side of chaos tossed in. More than enough in our online shopping cart looks like anxiety when the bill comes due. More than enough can look like the seven deadly sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

 Unlike pumpkin pie, no one elver sets out to acquire more of the seven deadly sins. But we when we don’t say no to the “more than enough” that’s what accumulates on our plate.

  What does it look like to jettison the things that are more than enough? How can we make space in our calendars? Control our spending?

 We follow Paul’s example, filling ourselves with gratitude for what God has provided, and even more for all He promises to provide.

You can hear more when Joe and I discuss enough on our podcast. Click here to listen to Season 1 Episode 041.

          

Until next time, keep your boots on the ground, head in the clouds, and heart in His hands.