| Proverbs 18:11 – “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” |
There are some simple words that are difficult to say.
A child abused by his parents may find the word “love” hard to get out of his mouth.
But one that seems to have a cultural tongue-tie is the simple little word “enough.”
We never seem to have enough.
Homes always need a “little more” space, so we move.
Paychecks which feed and clothe seem a little thin under the microscope of our wants. That’s why we always will say, “more” rather than enough.
Be careful with the word “more.”
A butcher threw a stray dog a bone which the dog quickly caught and dashed to a place of safety.
On his way, the dog passed a pond. He looked into the water and saw his reflection–a dog with a bone in his mouth.
He started to think about the bone the other dog had. Imagine the feast with two bones.
So, he dove into the water furiously trying to find the bone and wrest it from his nemesis’ mouth.
Soon, he found himself in deep water and he had to swim for his life. He panted as he reached the shore only to discover the bone he had was gone.
It is foolish to be greedy.
For us, our things are only a temporary fixture of our lives. Most have come easily and will leave easily.
Paul instructed Timothy to talk to his congregation about the problem of more.
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:7–10)
Rather than the joy we believe possessions bring, we, like the dog, find that they bring more misery than joy.
It’s a constant struggle. But check your life for the lingering “more.” And then, remember the dog.
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
