Sometimes enough is not enough. We pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, but we really wouldn't be happy if God provided just enough bread to get us through the day. I think about the Israelites living on that kind of faith. Each morning they would have to go out and look around the desert floor for food. Each evening they would go out and look for quail for meat. Fridays they needed to gather twice as much and prepare it for Saturday. On Saturday no food would be there. It was enough, but were they thankful? Were they content?
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days." So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD." (Exodus 16:1-8 NIV)
The Israelites aren't the only ones who get tempted to complain. We can get caught up in thinking that enough is really not enough. I've listened to people complain about not having enough money for a place to live, food to eat, or clothing on their back. Yet, when they complain they don't look like they are starving to death. They are definitely wearing clothes. Most of the time, they drive in their car back to their home after our talk.
I'm not trying to pick on other people here. Three fingers point back at me. I've fallen prey to worrying about money and provision at a level far above "need." That's why I started saying, "Need is such a strong word." Every time I say it, I remind myself. Contentment is never achieved by having more money. Contentment is achieved by having contentment.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13 NIV)
How about you? Has God given you "enough?" Are you content with what God has give you? Are you thankful for having enough?
How about you? Has God given you "enough?" Are you content with what God has give you? Are you thankful for having enough?
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