Ruth Harvey considers what enough means in God’s eyes.

WHAT does it mean to have enough? What is ‘enough’ for one may be plenty for another. What is meagre for some may be more than enough for others. In conversation, in community, perhaps enough-ness emerges as needs are noted and met.

There is more than enough, on our planet, to feed all, quench thirst, cure all, clothe bodies, provide roofs. So why are so many still starving? Why is malaria devastating central Africa, accounting for over half of all malaria deaths worldwide? Why are children drinking water contaminated with faeces? If there is enough, then what has gone wrong?

Jesus’ powerful preaching in Matthew 6 points to three ways of living that will steer towards enough-ness for all:

The first steer towards plenty, is the steer towards humility.

In Matthew 6:1 Jesus puts it plainly: ‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them.’ Virtue posturing, or virtue signalling is never attractive. This 21st century term was coined to describe ‘actions by those who, particularly on social media, aim to show off to others that you are a good person by saying things or expressing opinions or being seen to do things that will garner the praise of the other.’ Yes, follow the desire to emulate goodness, to align with values and actions that tilt towards justice and love. But beware modesty tumbling into pride when the desire to trumpet our righteousness, outweighs the actions themselves.

“ There is more than enough, on our planet, to feed all, quench thirst, cure all, clothe bodies, provide roofs. So why are so many still starving?

The second route offered to ‘enough’ is the route towards a focus.

In verse 21 of Matthew 6, Jesus says: ‘where your treasure is, there your heart is also.’ That which you store, to which you cling, may come to define you. This is not a value judgement so much as a noticing of how culture develops. The slow, creeping culture of consumerism gradually emerges and before we know it, we’ve bought in to commodifying everything. The throw-away culture, resonant of a satiation beyond comprehension, can, however, be converted into a give-away culture. Lockdown helped many to re-invent priorities: living on less, sharing more. Those with plenty – give. Those with stores – empty. Those with talents – share.

And the third nudge in this chapter - to noticing what ‘enough’ means for us - is towards single-mindedness. At verse 24 Jesus says: ‘You cannot serve both God and money.’ The invitation here is to lean on the love of God, not in place of money but in place of the love of money, the love of power. Power and money are not intrinsically evil. An over-indulgence in them however can lead to rivalry, possessiveness, and a search for power over rather than power with. So, practise powerwith. Practice money-sharing. Root these practices in compassion with those who have least in this world.

Clause 4 of the Iona Community’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commitment reads: “We believe that, handled with integrity, creation can provide for the needs of all, but not for the greed which leads to injustice and inequality, and endangers life on earth.”

May the greed which leads to injustice and inequality, the greed that endangers life on earth, be tempered by even greater humility, deeper focus and a singlemindedness on the love of God, which is always enough. Amen ¤

Ruth Harvey is Leader of the Iona Community. Find out more about, and join the Iona Community at www.iona.org.uk.