How much is enough? I recently finished reading the book Enough by Will Davis Jr. Davis has done an incredible job of describing the relationship between our quality of life and all the “stuff” that we have around us. Simply put, we in the Western Culture have more than enough of what we need and the extra stuff not only holds us back from living a less stressed life but prevents us from enjoying life the way it was meant to be.
Davis is the founding and senior pastor of Austin Christian Church in Texas and thus has included numerous biblical principles throughout the book but the concept applies to just about anyone who has the capability to read this post.
Davis gives us 7 risks that come with having “more than enough”:
Having more than enough can make you proud.
Lets be honest – big house, fancy car, boat, motor home – all of these things begin to represent our identity. I am not saying that it is wrong or bad to have these things but look at it this way – are you improving the life of others by sharing what you have? More importantly, have these items become more of a burden than a pleasure? Are you known as the guy who continually gives back to his community or simply the guy who has more than enough?
Having more than enough can make you feel entitled.
I have noticed Generation Y has a tendency to act very entitled. It is almost like they think that society owes them “more than enough” simply because they are part of it. I blame my own generation for this attitude. Most of us provided more than enough stuff and less than enough time to our kids, not intentionally, but because that’s what our culture has created.
Having more than enough can create a false sense of security.
I think many of us have a tendency to feel secure not in who we are but in what we have. At the end of the day, the legacy we leave will be based on how me made people feel, not in what we leave behind in the material sense.
Having more than enough distracts you.
Oh man, this is the big one for me. After reading this book, I realize that more than enough creates constant stress in my life. What do I wear today? What am I going to eat for dinner? It amazes me that with both of our boys back at college it still is an exercise in organization to put leftovers back in the refrigerator after dinner. Fridays question is usually “what will I work on this weekend?” Really?!
Having more than enough only makes you hungry for more.
Think about it – the more we get, the more we want. How much is enough? The better question to me is “How much is more than enough?”
Having more than enough creates “powerful” people.
Our culture teaches us that the people that have more than enough, have all the power. In reflection, I believe that the people with less are the ones with the real power because they have the ability to control their time rather than have it controlled.
Having more than enough can make you unappreciative.
When we have more than enough, we start to lose perspective on how much we really have. All of a sudden we no longer appreciate what we have because we are so focused on what we don’t have.
This weekend I am starting with my closets and drawers and I am going to start reducing the “more than enough” that I have and start thinking about living with enough. I challenge you to do the same.
There are people around us that are living with less than enough so why not help them towards having enough and at the same time free yourself from the “more than enough” that is preventing you from enjoying what life is really about – the people around you.
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 8/31/12 image by author
