More Than Enough

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, Jesus said, “You cannot serve two masters. You will either hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Money is not an easy topic. But it is relevant! It affects just about every aspect of our lives. And it is deeply spiritual. Jesus talked about money and possessions more than he talked about prayer—or even heaven and hell combined.

It’s a difficult topic because we get a pretty strong message from our culture about money and possessions. And we are shaped by that message.

On kind of a light note, I think it was Gertrude Stein, actually, who said, “Whoever says money can’t buy happiness obviously just doesn’t know where to shop.”

It’s funny—but it’s not true, is it?

Just before the COVID shutdown, I was flying home from Texas. I was bored, so I picked up the in-flight airline magazine. I came across an article about a class that was offered at Harvard on happiness. It was one of the most popular courses on campus that year. I went online and found you could watch some of the lectures on YouTube.

It was interesting. Studies have found that after the basics are met—food, shelter, and basic health care—more money doesn’t mean more happiness. More possessions do not mean more happiness. But having time to spend with friends and family does. Volunteering in your community does. Giving to a cause you believe in does.

Today I wonder what Jesus’ words might invite us to consider—not in judgment, but in love. Maybe He’s asking us to think about what truly gives life, what truly brings joy, what truly lasts.

We can’t serve two masters. But we can serve one who loves us beyond measure, who gives freely, and who invites us to trust that there is more than enough.

Let us pray: Loving God, you know the weight we carry—our worries, our responsibilities, our hopes for the future. You know our relationship with money, with work, with the things that fill our days. Turn our hearts from worry to trust, from fear to gratitude, from self to service. May all that we do and give reflect your love in us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.