How much is enough?

That's the question Wess Stafford, the founder of Compassion International, posed via video a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to shake it. That simple question started my wife and I on a quest to simplify our lives so we could give more freely. I never dreamed, when we started this journey, that I would find such release and freedom in the process. It's been incredible and we're just getting started.

That being said, I have to warn you, if you ask the Holy Spirit a loaded question like, "How much is enough?" you're probably not going to like the answer. The truth is, for most of us in the West, enough is a whole lot less than we have. The harsh reality is most of us live bloated, over-indulged lives, held captive by materialism and, what the Bible calls, greed!

To help you begin the process of letting go, let me suggest a prayer by A.W. Tozer from The Pursuit of God:

Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Once you've wrestled with the Holy Spirit over how much is enough, that discussion naturally leads to a second, much more dangerous question:

How do I get down to enough?

The following list includes some of the things the folks at Vineyard-Overland Park are doing to simplify their lives so they can give more freely. I thought it might help you consider the possibilities.

1. One couple at Vineyard slashed their grocery budget in half by deciding beforehand what they would buy versus wandering through the aisles buying on impulse.
2. Several folks at Vineyard decided to give first, making generosity a priority, instead of giving out of their leftovers or not at all.
3. One family decided to sell a second car so they could use a portion of the savings to support a child through Compassion and give more to Vineyard. Another couple felt like God was asking them the question, "Do you really need that third car?"
4. One couple decided to sell their house and buy a house that costs half as much in an effort to raise their giving to 15% of their income. Another couple sold their home last spring and moved into one less than half the size to enable them to give more freely!
5. Several folks at Vineyard recommitted themselves to living within their means, eliminating "extras" to enable them to give.
6. One woman at Vineyard decided to stop purchasing clothes from department stores and shop Saver's, Salvation Army or Goodwill instead. She also makes it a habit to give away 1 or 2 items she owns for each item she purchases.
7. Several folks at Vineyard went through their closets and donated all their unused clothing.
8. One couple felt led to support a child through Compassion but they wanted their children to participate as well. So they got the family together and asked each child what they were willing to sacrifice to help with the support. One of the children chose to take two less snacks to school each week, another chose not to get extra milk with his lunch twice a week, another committed half of his chore money each week and the youngest committed to helping more around the house. The youngest is only 3! It's never too early to start training generosity into your children.
9. One of the men at Vineyard started a coat drive at work, posting signs and personally asking people to look through their closets for gently used coats that they can donate. The coats will be donated to Hope-Faith Ministries. A shoe drive is in the works for next month!
10. One family felt led to simplify what they eat, getting back to basics. They decided to eliminate "prepared" food items like frozen pizza, pizza rolls, chicken strips, Gold Fish, Cheeze-its, soda and chips and make more items from "scratch." Besides the obvious health benefits, the savings would then be invested in the Kingdom of God.
11. Several families felt led to eat out less and give the savings to the Lord.
12. One family decided to set a limit on their bank balance and call it enough, designating everything beyond that for special needs.
13. One couple has joined the group ministering at Hope-Faith. They are also selling books in their library to raise funds and fasting with the plan of donating a "daily food amount" to homeless shelter ministries.
14. One family is looking for ways to reduce the cost of an upcoming wedding! The average wedding in America costs $30,000. This one fact alone presents an excellent opportunity for Christians to practice good stewardship.
15. One woman at Vineyard has decided to keep her old car in good repair instead of buying a new one. She also has decided to get up 10 minutes earlier each day to make coffee instead of paying $4.06 at Starbucks for a latte.

If you're taking steps to get down to enough so you can give more freely, I'd love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know what you're doing.

Peace, OUT.

Mark Warner