October 31, 2023

The Bible Edge

Practical Points to Ponder from Proverbs

Proverbs 30:8

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Have you ever considered the power of enough? There is power therein.

Having enough means that there is contentment.

Having enough means the risk of covetousness is reduced.

Having enough means that more means little or nothing.

Having enough means there is satisfaction.

Having enough means that person cannot be enticed with wrongdoing for more.

When is enough enough? Our verse today gives a clue. It is living in that comfort zone, not rich, but not poor. Consider the synonyms of enough: sufficient, adequate, plentiful, ample. That would be quite a life to live within those adjectives, to be sure.

Merchandisers probably hate those who have enough stuff. Financial investors probably find it distasteful for someone to say, “No thanks, I have enough.” There is nothing wrong with merchandise and even investments, but there comes a time when enough is enough.

More is the antithesis to enough. More than enough is too much for some and not enough for others.

A person named Shirley Pettigrew once wrote:

A patch of ground

An old grey mule

Enough to eat

His kids in school

A faithful wife

A song to sing

It doesn’t take much

To make a king.

Dear reader, in all thy getting, I pray that you achieve the lofty goal of having enough.

William T. Howe, Ph.D.