MORE OR LESS

Today our Senior Minister David Emery challenged our congregation at Middletown Christian Church to LIVE SIMPLY during 2014.  His message reminded me of a book I read this summer entitled More or Less.


In More or Less, Jeff Shinabarger calls readers to create their own social experiments to answer the question, “What is enough?”  It all started with one idea: What would happen if his church created a culture in which they gave away whatever was more than enough for them? How would their habits change if they shed the excess of money, clutter, and food in their lives? 

Today I have been challenged to LIVE OUT THIS AMAZING LOVE OF CHRIST by asking "What is enough?"  If you look up enough in the dictionary, you will find a subjective definition:  "Adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire."  The definition of enough cannot be defined by or for others.  It would be much easier if someone gave each of us a definition to live by, but it isn't that easy.  Enough isn't a percentage of your income.  There is no simple formula.  You must determine for yourself what is enough.  (p. 38)

So...
What is enough food?  What would happen if your family chose to eat everything in the pantry before going to the grocery store again?  How much money could you save and give away?

What is enough clothing?  What would happen if your family chose to buy zero clothes/shoes/purses for 2014?  How much money could you save and give away?

I hope you will challenge yourself as I've challenged myself to do an experiment on what is enough?  Maybe you will choose to only eat out once a week or maybe you will choose to not buy any clothing for 2014 or maybe you will choose to not buy $4 drinks at Starbucks.  Pray about what experiment God may be challenging you to do.  I look forward to hearing about how living on less will create the potential to do much more for others.  Your excess can address the needs of others.  Don't wait.  Live out the Love of Christ!  Make a positive difference for the purposes of Jesus Christ!

LIVE IT OUT!