Enough Is Enough!

Psalm 16

With the holidays approaching, many of us will be tempted to overeat. Extra calories surround us in the form of second helpings, elegant desserts, and special one-time-a-year treats.  Nutritionists tell us that instead of denying ourselves, we should focus on limiting the amount we consume. Portion control is essential for a healthy diet.

Why do we want so much more than we need?  God supplied the Israelites with manna and quail in the wilderness. They had enough, but they didn't trust that God would continue to provide for them. When they tried to keep food for the next day, it spoiled. God taught them a lesson in portion control: take and eat only what you need. That's a lesson we need to learn, not just for food but for all kinds of stuff. Today we live in a culture where there's actually a hit television show about hoarding!

Perhaps our problem is not just with portion size, but with the whole idea of control.  We want to control our lives and our futures, but what God wants to give us is so much better than what we can provide for ourselves. Can we, like the psalmist, be satisfied with what God gives?

Thank you, generous God, for feeding us with the gift of yourself, through Christ. Amen.*

*From: Christ In Our Home, devotional for Friday, November 16.

by: Kathryn Kleinhans, Professor of Religion at Wartburg College; Waverly, IA

Life is Good!