I Have Enough

America is said, "To be the land of opportunity" known the world over for the Americian Dream and this spirit is characteristic of its people. It's a country where being born without privilege, money or station in life, can be overcome, and that is why so many have come from all over the earth, to become part of what has made America great. It seems that America has been romanticized as a land of opportunity since the 16th century and from its founding in 1776, the United States has regarded and promoted itself as an empire of liberty and prosperity. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights," which include "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Though we live in a land of plenty, yet it is very seldom that we hear anyone say "I have enough."


The first business of the Christian is to "seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteouness,but to often we strive for "gold that perisheth," which becomes a fierce hardship for our wife and children, leaving them feeling a distant second to worldly pursuits. Family members have grown into adulthood in strife,conflict and rivalry between other family members. This is a very commonly known fact, Hollywood has made many different comical movies depicting a father's obession with work to the detriment of his family. Showing the truth of the quote, "Everything is funny as long as it is happening to someone else."

"....men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6: 5-10).

A family enjoyed raising some laying hens, they brought a straight run of chicks, which means they got a mixture of hens and roosters. One day they decided` it was time to put the rooster to a better use than just consuming more food. So they went into the fenced in yard and started to corner and capture the roosters, putting them into cages. One of the cornered rooster felt he was not going to have anyting to do with this, so he jumped straight up and flew out over the 4 foot high fence. Let me stop here in this story to consider a few things. Without a doubt, any of the chichen could have done what this roosted did, but they all remained inside the fenced in area, Why? The chickens remained in the pen because they found satisfaction/contentment there. "Having food and raiment there were content," and they found "contentment great gain." The fenced in area served the chickens in three ways:

1) It kept them in an acceptable area.

2) It protected them from predators.

3) It kept them together.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6)). A contented mind is one of the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this life. Contentment is good for the soul, for it stops murmuring, reflecting, and ingratitude toward God and our fellowman. It gives us thoughts of peace and love and makes our conversation pleasant.

However, all of these important function rested entirely upon contentment. All of us have lived long enough to know that, "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. What we fail to comprehend is having food, clothing, and a roof over our head to be therein content. So we jump straight up and flew out over the fenced in area of contentment, exposing ourself, and family to all of the above stated dangers.

It has been said that the Americans, "for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled." And it has been added that if they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west. When will you learn that the hard and rocky paths of life, are those beaten down, and paved over by discontentment and say "I have enough."