Enough - Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity

Welcome to the first week of our 5-week bible study of “Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity” (Adam Hamilton). Our group meets Monday nights from 7pm-8pm in the Youth Room at Grace UMC. We offer this bible study blog as an additional resource for Monday night participants and for those unable to attend, but desiring to become wise stewards of the resources God has given them.

Faith In the Midst of Financial Crisis

Stress, Anxiety and Fear. These three simple words have been captured in the hearts and minds of many of us over the past year, month, week, and days. The economic crisis of America, and the world, hits us close to home with rising utility prices, loss of jobs, declining 401Ks, and foreclosures. We’ve pointed fingers at various causes, but we are now forced to take a deeper look at indirect problems of the current crisis.

With Adam Hamilton’s guide, we are redirected that the ultimate causes are not financial but spiritual. At least 5 of the 7 deadly sins come into play on “Wall Street” and “Main Street”: gluttony, greed, sloth, envy and pride. We look to place blame on the CEOs on Wall Street, but we must look unto ourselves – we’ve used tomorrow’s money to finance today’s lifestyle. We’ve stopped saving, took the equity from our homes, and charged away as if there was no tomorrow.
An economic crisis is also a crisis of faith. This is not saying we do not have faith in God, but we have lost faith in those around us. Without faith, we will face our most potent threat – as FDR stated in his 1933 Inaugural Address – we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Throughout the Bible, we find words of hope and promise that remind us we have no reason to fear, for God is our refuge and strength.

The word “credit” comes from the Latin word credo, which means “I Believe”. As Christians, our credo is in God. The Apostle’s Creed begins “I believe in God the Father Almighty”. We must remember this creed and use it as our building block. The church and our spiritual life is to be a beacon of light inviting people to find deliverance, redemption, salvation, hope and a new way of life.

We must now re-evaluate what constitutes the good life. Hamilton reminds us that there is no sin in having wealth. It is the love of money that Scripture says is a root of all kinds of evil. Our problems arise by placing wealth and possessions at the focal point of our life. Jesus taught “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Enough by Adam Hamilton