Friday 2 October 2020

How much is enough?



Today's passage from Ecclesiastes reminded me of the question posed by Adam Hamilton - "How much is enough?"

"Once again I saw that nothing on earth makes sense. For example, some people don’t have friends or family. But they are never satisfied with what they own, and they never stop working to get more. They should ask themselves, “Why am I always working to have more? Who will get what I leave behind?” What a senseless and miserable life!" - Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 (CEV)

There is such a sadness in his observation. I know he is not advocating doing nothing in our lives or being lazy, but he does get to the root of why we actually work? Is it because we need money or is it because we feel satisfaction in our work and can enjoy this Life as a gift from God?

Psalm 78:25 - He gave them more than enough, and each one of them ate this special food.

Prayer by Adam Hamilton - “Lord, help me be grateful for what I have, remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Delme
I'm enjoying your series on Ecclesiastes. You are very brave to take it on. If you are going through the whole book systematically then you will still get to 7:10, which in the Good News reads. Do not ask why things were better in the old days. It is not an intelligent question. Sweet! I used to twit my dad with that question, and as I now approach my 60th birthday I try to remind myself not to be or become just another grumpy old man, but to be constantly looking for the good in younger people and in how the world has changed. Not all change is bad. As they say, bad news is usually an event and gets a lot of attention. Good news is usually a slow process, and is often not noticed. See TED talks by the late great Hans Rosling to get a very good overview on that.
Keep up the good work there innieKaap. We look forward to visiting one day. Dave and Lindi Still

Delme Linscott said...

Thanks so much for the feedback Dave - hope you are all doing well? I will think of you when I get to chapter 7 :)
I am finding myself becoming more and more like my parents in my "old age", which can be an interesting thing to observe. I am sure my kids think I am just an old guy who knows nothing, but as they start to become more like Kim and I, hopefully we won't seem too bad then.
God bless
Delme