Adam Hamilton - Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity

ENOUGH

Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity

Copyright 2009 by Adam Hamilton

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to Permissions Office, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, Tennessee 37202-0801, faxed to 615-749-6512, or e-mailed to permissions@abingdonpress.com.

Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission.

Scripture quotations noted (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION(r). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations noted (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible(r), Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

ISBN 978-1-426-70233-4

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1810 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FAITH IN THE MIDST OF FINANCIAL CRISIS

Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These words capture well the state of mind of many in America today. We have witnessed dramatic market losses, the collapse of the world's largest insurance company, the largest Savings and Loan failure in banking history, and numerous bankruptcies and mergers. Every day seems to bring another piece of economic uncertainty.

Recently, the American Psychological Association released the findings of a survey they conducted of 7,000 American households. The study notes that 80 percent of Americans are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half are worried about their ability to provide for their family's basic needs. Fifty-six percent are concerned about their own job stability. Sixty percent of respondents report feeling angry and irritable, and 52 percent report laying awake at night worried about this. The report concludes that, The declining state of the nation's economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide.

The causes of our national economic woes are many. Some point to deregulation of financial industries, subprime mortgages, the housing bubble, and even fraud as the principal culprits in what has been described as the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. But beneath all of these direct causes are the deeper, indirect problems of the current crisis. These ultimate causes are not financial but spiritual. At least five of the seven deadly sins come into play both on Wall Street and Main Street": gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, and ultimately pride all came before the fall. These led to absurd economic practices that bordered on the criminal. It was not simply the CEOs and Wall Street types who danced to this tune. It was every one of us whose 401ks prospered by their efforts. More than that, it was every one of us who abandoned financial wisdom and prudence and borrowed beyond our capacity to repay in order to buy houses, cars, and whatever our hearts desired. Unwilling to delay gratification, we used tomorrow's money to finance today's lifestyle. We stopped saving, took the equity out of our homes, and we charged away as if there was no tomorrow. But tomorrow did come. And many Americans woke up with an economic hangover.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God. (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV)

As Americans watched the stock market plunge, retirement savings evaporate, home values plummet, and the economy contract beginning in the fall of 2008, there was a collective sense that it was time to say, Enough. When the economic house of cards began to fall, most of us knew intuitively that things had to change. We had focused too much of our energy and resources on acquiring more and newer, bigger and better. The funny thing was, all of our consuming did not increase our joy in lifeif anything it tended to rob us of joy and increase our stress.

This book is an invitation for you to rediscover truths previous generations knewwisdom that was drawn from the pages of Scripture. It is meant to be a guide and a source of encouragement and inspiration. In it, I will suggest that joy and contentment are found in simplicity and generosity, in faith and in pursuing your purpose in life. I'm not advocating that any of us live in poverty, but that we cultivate contentment and re-evaluate what constitutes the good life. There is no sin in having wealth. Money itself is morally neutral. It can be used for good or evil. It is the love of money that the Scripture says is a root of all kinds of evil. The problem arises when we make the acquisition of wealth and material possessions our focus in life. Here Jesus was right to warn us that we cannot serve both God and wealthonly one can be most important in our life.

The government has a role to play in times of economic uncertainty. But the primary problems that led to the economic crisis that began in 2008 are not solved by government policy. They are spiritual issues that require a change within the individual. The New Testament has a word for what is needed: metanoiait is usually translated repentance and means a change of mind and heart that results in changed behavior. My hope is to invite readers of this book to experience metanoiato see our money and our possessions with new eyes remembering, as Jesus taught, One's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).

If we ignore these lessons, within a decade our nation will be right back where we are today. It is my hope that biblical truths such as these, combined with practical financial wisdom, will guide us to a different futurea future in which we've learned to say, Enough.

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1 Eight Out of Ten Americans Stressed Because of Economy, by Madison Park, from CNN.com, October 7, 2008; http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/con ditions/10/07/economic.stress/index.html.

Contentment Prayer

Lord, help me to be grateful for
what I have, to remember that
I don't need most of what I want,
and that joy is found in simplicity
and generosity.

Look inside the back cover to find three personal Contentment Prayer key tags. When you go to the mall, or to the grocery store, or sit down to pay your bills, allow the Contentment Prayer to be your guide. Every time you take your physical keys out, you will be reminded of the spiritual keys that will guide you to fulfill your life purpose.

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:10b, NIV

The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?