What is "Enough?"
I just started reading this book by Will Davis, Jr., entitled Enough.
I thought success was financial or had to do with who knew me and what I was doing. Am I popular, praised, prospering? I found this book in the nook section and started to skim over the pages. This goes right along with what the Lord showed me in his times with me, lately. He has been working with my trust in him.
If we will realize that the Lord Jesus Christ has created and owns everything we have (in our possession) and that we are merely the bookkeepers; we will gain the right perspective when it comes to our financial management. Also, we must realize that only he gets the glory honor and praise for everything (even the bad can be used for good -Romans 8:28). We can trust him for what seems to be impossible to us, because we realize that the answer is not limited to our disposable resources but his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
I invite you to grab a copy or order one on your Nook or Kindle and read along. Virtual readers group! :)
I will start with the Introduction and probably Chapter 1 for this week. We can read and share our thoughts on a chapter each week. Again feel free to grab a copy and comment as you read. Hope to see your feedback.
There are a couple more books listed on this page if you are interested.
Have a great day.
Kendra St John
I thought success was financial or had to do with who knew me and what I was doing. Am I popular, praised, prospering? I found this book in the nook section and started to skim over the pages. This goes right along with what the Lord showed me in his times with me, lately. He has been working with my trust in him.
If we will realize that the Lord Jesus Christ has created and owns everything we have (in our possession) and that we are merely the bookkeepers; we will gain the right perspective when it comes to our financial management. Also, we must realize that only he gets the glory honor and praise for everything (even the bad can be used for good -Romans 8:28). We can trust him for what seems to be impossible to us, because we realize that the answer is not limited to our disposable resources but his riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
I invite you to grab a copy or order one on your Nook or Kindle and read along. Virtual readers group! :)
I will start with the Introduction and probably Chapter 1 for this week. We can read and share our thoughts on a chapter each week. Again feel free to grab a copy and comment as you read. Hope to see your feedback.
There are a couple more books listed on this page if you are interested.
Have a great day.
Kendra St John
Philippians 4:11-13
ReplyDeletePaul speaks of being abased and abounding. Neither of these states is in our control, which often times makes them difficult to manage or endure. We are creatures who want closure and control. So, when blessings and curses come into our lives we must be able to endure as well as enjoy them. This leads us to Chapter 2. Join me!
Chapter 2 Have you read it? What do you covet? Remember lusts are not limited to physical attraction. It can also include things, money, power etc. Are you prideful about your position or do you long for a position of preeminence? Remember the Lord raises up one and puts down another. Don't be proud even of the position you are in, now. Keep it all in perspective. "Love not the world nor the things of this world. You can not love it and God too.
ReplyDeleteHello guys and gals. Sorry that I am late in posting. I read chapter 3 and the part that sticks out is what we are missing in our lives. We move so quickly through our days, working to earn the next buck. We have our agendas and our dreams that drive us to work and burn the candles at both ends. Where do we stop and take stock of our lives? Some may adopt a cause as our own, but do we not believe that we are the creation and therefore have a purpose that we need to seek out and discover. We will only be truly fulfilled as a people when we know our creator intimately and know for what purpose we are here. Our lives are a vapor and we need to slow down and even be still so the Lord of creation can speak to us. One question: do we want to hear what he has to say. Those of us who do know him need to remember why we are reborn and do the first works; Pray for revival of power, joy and purpose. Let's do the work we have to do "while it its yet day."
ReplyDeleteI have been been receiving the same word in my spirit for the past week; "poise." The first thing I thought of was a cobra poised to strike. I know that it doesn't sound very positive and even gives some attribute to the enemy of our souls, Satan.
ReplyDeleteBut hang with me here. I asked the Lord about this word and what he was trying to tell me in the scheme of things. I felt led to look up the word and some of the synonyms and just think of what visual pictures these other words would give me.
So here are some of those words:
balanced, hanging, dependent. floating, gliding, waiting, serene, positioned, reclined, seated, ready,
Are you getting what I am seeing yet?
Now, how does this relate to the book, and the fifth chapter?
The chapter addresses the rich young ruler who could not part with his riches to follow Christ. Jesus makes the famous statement that it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. It goes on to talk about how riches are high maintenance and a great distraction from the things regarding Christ and his kingdom.
Rev 3:14-18 talks about the church who is rich in the world's riches and poor and naked in Christ. They are tapped out of the Holy Ghost and overcome with the love of this world. It goes on to plead with them to buy gold tried in the fire, garments white to cover their nakedness and eye salve so they could see. This is all given by the Holy Ghost. Only one Spirit can lead us through the trials that will purify us and make us transparent and white, and one Spirit that can anoint our understanding to see him as he is.
Poise. We cannot balance with baggage on our shoulders and our pockets stuffed with unnecessary trinkets. We cannot float with the weights of materialism, status, concerns with image and popularity-we will only drown. We must lose our lives here so that we can gain eternal victorious lives in Christ.
Why do we need poise? Our minds must be rested, alert and focused. Our ears need to be tuned to the Spirit. We must, in this warfare against the enemy, be on the offense-not the defense; poised to strike the enemy of our souls. And positioned to reap the reward of our King of Kings.
God bless you this week.
Hello friends. It appears that my last post got lost. I don't remember exactly what was covered but what I do remember was that it had a lot to do with perspective. So I will sum up the last 2 or 3 chapters with this comment. The book gives an example of a man named Cory, who was rather wealthy.
ReplyDeleteCory realized that there are others less fortunate than he was in his times of leanness financially. He also saw after going to a mission trip that he was spoiled compared to the people of other nations. He definitely had more than enough. Now he is looking at people who have LESS than enough. They are right at our back door. Why are we so uncomfortable with their presence. Let's admit it. The majority of us is uncomfortable. Have we been there and don't want to return? Maybe we are afraid of visiting that financial pit-even temporarily. Jesus spoke many times about giving to the poor. David called it "lending to the Lord." He promised recompense from the Lord in multiple blessings that are not necessarily limited to finances or possessions..
Here is a challenge for all of us. The next time we want to spend for ourselves, let us take a little and give to someone who may not have enough.
God bless and enjoy the rest of your week.
"He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee; but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God. So, what is chapter 9 about? Justice. We can accomplish this as we live and prefer our neighbors before ourselves, to rejoice for them and support them when God is working through them. We should stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves not as a public demonstration but as a friend and a beacon set before them to show them to Jesus if they do not already know him. When justice is not served at your table and your plate is full of bitterness. Push it away and pray the Lord help you to see the situation as he would and give you the right spirit in the midst of your disappointment. Don't eat the deceptive treats that turn your inside bitter. Forgive and wait on the Lord to deliver and work it all out as he does best.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Living sacrifices tens to crawl off the altar!
ReplyDeleteRomans 12:1 Says that, as Christians, we are to present ourselves living sacrifice; holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.
Another scripture says that we must endure hardness as a good soldier.
How do we relate these scriptures to our living with enough?
Many of us have never seen poverty at the extreme or been victims of war crimes. We may have suffered persecution and bullying because we were different and didn't do the "cool" things like smoke and drink and party.
Suffering for Christ namesake does not include self-inflicted wounds nor does it include affliction due to wrongdoing. We are asked then to be sacrifices, preferring the will of God and lives of inconvenience in order to be all things for all people. This is more than scaling back on personal purchases. Paul mentioned that he learned to be abased and to abound. We go through physical, financial loss or leanness to become more sensitive to the losses of others. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes. He wants us to have the same compassion on others. Are we willing to be drop our dreams for the sake of others'; even beyond our own families? Are we willing to care for someone we don't know that well?
This attitude takes us from our personal wants and the desires to appreciating what others are going through. Godliness with contentment is great gain, This is the life!
I am sorry that I am late in posting this comment. My laptop decided to take a siesta. My husband's computer is usually occupied.
ReplyDeleteHere we are at chapter 11 in Enough by Will Davis, Jr.
So, the question is posed," what is in your wallet?" Not Capital One. Money, the green stuff we spend over 8 hour days working for to make ends meet. "What will we do for money-for one million dollars?" "Do you have a price?"
1 Timothy 6:10 says, "The love of money is the root of all evil." We have all heard this misquoted." Money in and of itself is not evil. It has no power except that which is given to it by the possessor or the one try to attain it. The question should be posed, "Do we possess money or does it possess us?
Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, "Money answereth all things." Solomon was only making an observation and reflecting on his own attitudes and that of others. Today's quote would sound more like, "money talks."
Money beckons to anyone who will listen and yield themselves to serve it. Do we listen?
We shouldn't. Psalm 49:6-20 says that we can not redeem our own souls or that of another. We cannot buy our salvation with it or anything else we may possess. None of it belongs to us. I made a point of that in one of my earlier posts. It's temporary as are our mortal lives.
So what is valuable and what is eternal? God, his Kingdom and our souls. So, are we making the right decisions about work and values; possessions and relationships?
Are we looking heavenward? Matthew 6:21
You know that the first tithe was offered by Jacob as an actual tithe. However the principle of the first fruits was mentioned before then with Adam. Remember the innocent animal was slain to provide the cover for Adam and Eve. Though does not explicitly say it in scripture, I would imagine that Adam passed this principle to his sons. Nowhere does it require man to slaughter an animal; it simply gives an account of two boys giving unto God. Genesis 4:3,4 speaks about Cain's OFFERING of the fruit of the ground, whereas it speaks of Adam's FIRSTLING of his flock. It is not about WHAT was given, but about the BEST. Animal sacrifice was not required of the people of God until the time of the Passover, where God said (Exodus 12:2) "This month will be the first of all months." This was to be a sign of a new beginning a new way of doing things to further symbolize what was to come. We go on to read about the lamb slain and the blood put upon the doorposts.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 12 of ENOUGH, we are discussing the principle of the tithe: one tenth of our increase. This is given to the church, synagogue (The Jewish still tithe). This is "home" this is "where we hang our hat." Jacob promised to God that he would give him the first tenth of his increase if God would allow him to return to Bethel. God gave him his life for a prize; Jacob gave the first of his increase in gratitude.
How grateful are we REALLY?
Tithe is the first of anything. Increase could mean anything:
1.Money or salary for work performed
2.First energy of the day. Giving time and strength to the Lord toward his kingdom.
Beyond the tithe there are offerings. Again this is not limited to money. Just remember; time, talents and treasure.
This goes back to the question in the last discussions, "where is our heart?" Where is our treasure?"
The principle is simple. If we are grateful for a place to worship, would we not want to support it? If we are grateful for all the blessings God has given, would we not want to be generous above and beyond the requirement? Then would we not want to recognize those who cannot provide for themselves and help them financially or physically by giving time and energy and maybe groceries, clothes etc?
Let's keep our hands and hearts open, people.
Your question may be, "What if they are not appreciative of the gifts and misuse them."
The answer is, "That is not our concern as long as we did it unto the Lord in love, obedience and reverence."
Just keep giving and let the Lord keep blessing you.
Many prayers to you.
What is an upper room Christian? The account in the Bible speaks of an affluent man who had a house with an upper room. This room became quite famous because of the different occurrences of Christ's visits. It belonged to the family of John Mark. He was generous to use it for the work of the Lord. We know it became the scene for the last supper the two visits of Christ after his resurrection as well as the birth of the new church in the book of Acts.
ReplyDeleteWe may not necessarily have a piece of property or even a lot of money to dispense of for the kingdom's work. But that is okay. Many of us have talents, abilities, positions in companies, organizations and friends and relatives that may be contacted to donate or give for a worthy cause.
Just because the money or possession is not at our disposal does not mean we cannot be "upper room Christians"
What do you have in your hand or your house. What degrees or certificates have you earned where the knowledge may be helpful to the work of God? Look outside the box and be generous with whatever time, talents and/experience you may have to offer.
God Bless.
I am sorry that I missed you this last week. I will be brief in this comment. The last two chapters have mainly been about living with less. Living with less requires that we have a change in perspective- in our paradigms. In order to live with less we have to first recognize the number one principle; none of it belongs to us. If we belong to the Lord and we are eagerly waiting on him and obedient to his will what we ask for and believe for we can have. These are possessions to be used for the glory of God and ministry to others. We are able to enjoy things that he gives us. The important point here is that we cannot hold too tightly to them so as to be offended if they are taken away or used for a divine purpose-who are we to say, "No?"
ReplyDeleteI said that I would be short. We are now at chapter 16. I am at a decision point; Do I want to continue chapter by chapter or simply tie up the last few chapters as an overview. Do you enjoy one over the other going forward? Give me your input if you will; your feedback is much appreciated.. Thanks and God bless.