Just one more dollar …

Idling ahead of me and in the left lane at the red light was a red Audi TT convertible with the top down. In the left turn lane next to the Audi was a fire engine red Corvette. The driver and passenger of the Audi spent the whole length of the red light staring at the Corvette.

I can’t read minds, but the look of the two people in the Audi seemed like one of envy, even though they were cruising in a nice ride of their own.

When is enough ever enough?

Billionaire John D. Rockefeller was asked that question, and his response is the famous line we’ve heard before: “Just one more dollar.”

Before you knock such an over-the-top response from a guy who has billions wanting one more dollar, how different is that from our own attitudes? How many of us don’t have idling in our minds a list — whether short or long — of things we either want or wish for? A newer model car, bigger house, cooler phone, the latest fashion, a bigger boat … the list often goes on ad nauseam. And if you could buy everything on your current wish list, how many of us wouldn’t simply re-populate the list with new wants and wishes?

When is enough really enough?

The Apostle Paul addressed that question directly in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 with simple clarity:

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

This topic is more often a platitude-like discussion we have at some time in our lives, or discuss with others every now and then, but then we return to a life of want. Even knowing the truth about contentment, we all too often choose to idle by in the emptiness of wishing and wanting. It often takes great loss and suffering before a person learns the hard way that perhaps what scripture says about contentment is right!

Are you satisfied? Have you come to a place where you can say, “This is enough!” If not, what will take? Where is God in the midst of your yearnings?

Scotty