Enough is as good as a feast!

I recently watched Mary Poppins again when it was on TV.
It is such an odd film, but Ruth and I once again found ourselves engrossed by it. On this occasion, though, we caught one of Mary Poppins’ casual comments to the children. It was genius: “Enough is as good as a feast.”
Brilliant!
Every now and again you may catch Ruth or me quoting this. It is outlandish, absurd, and funny but can it be true?!

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:10-13

Perhaps the reason why Mary’s words stood out so much was because they seems so diametrically opposed to our way of thinking. It often feels as though everything that underpins our daily consumption is the assertion that enough is not enough.

There is a James Bond film called ‘The World is Not Enough’. Not a great film but it’s title smacks of opulence, grandiose, outrageous ambition. But ‘enough is not enough’ is surely a cry of poverty not decadence.
Our economy is established on consumerism which endorses this saying, it is underpinned by a need for more. We are encouraged to find contentment in consumption. And so Paul’s encouragement, his example, seems like such a far cry for us.
What fuelled his contentment? Fusion it would seem. He says that it is Christ “who gives me strength” and a sense of contentment.

Thinking about that, I guess the question that hangs over all of this is simple and yet deeply challenging: Is Christ enough for us?
When God says that says that “My grace is sufficient” do we cry ‘Amen’ or beg for more? How would we fair if we found ourselves in the company of Job having lost everything; our health, our children our dignity. Would we still find ourselves satisfied in our faith? Able to worship God and testify to His goodness?

I pray that we are not tested in this as Job was but the truth is that the world is desperate for us to show them a counter culture. One that sings to a different tune, one that is truly satisfied by something unchangeable and eternal. There is a cry for satisfaction which can never be met by an ‘enough is not enough’ drive.
People are longing to find satisfied Christians; ones reliant, secure and contented in their Lord regardless of whether they are on the breadline or dining at the Ritz. That is the billboard people are looking for. Lord, help me be that advertisement.