Just Enough

Come Sunday, most of us will utter a prayer as we worship together. One of the lines goes like this: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Of course, this comes from The Lord’s Prayer.

One doesn’t have to be a Bible scholar to imagine that Jesus is hearkening us back to the days in the wilderness when manna came from heaven on a daily basis. You never got too much (or it would spoil) and you never got too little. Just enough. It is also possible that Jesus was reminding his faithful friends to recall the words of Proverbs 30:8, “…give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread.”

The point is this. The legitimate prayer—the legitimate ask—is for “not too little;” but it is also for “not too much.” Most of us never think about bread (or money) in this way. “Not too little” we understand. We are very sure to let God know we don’t want a shortage. However, praying to God for “not too much” is something many of us have never tried. We are less inclined to ask God to make sure there is no surplus. “Give me neither poverty or riches…” is the prayer of the faithful Christian.

I don’t know about you, but when I pray about “too little” my mind is drawn to all the places I have too little. The more I focus on it, the less I see in my life. The result is a life of anxiety and a grumbling. Conversely, as I pray about “too much” my mind is drawn to think about places where I have an abundance and can live comfortably with less than I have. The result is both gratitude and an opportunity to use those resources for Kingdom work.

While perhaps not a popular thought, be sure to pray the prayer of “just enough.” Our lives (and our churches) are not meant for too little or too much. God has made it thus.

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