Is God enough

From Gary Thomas

Genesis 2:18 – “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Adam walked with God, enjoyed God, worshiped God, and talked with God – far more intensely and directly than we do today. And, yet it was God who said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. God literally told Adam, “It is my opinion that the way you are living - just me and you - is not enough, or at least not for now.”

But, when asked, “Is Jesus enough?,” most Christ followers are challenged to offer an unqualified “yes.” In a similar example, the true answer to the question, “Are bread and water enough to keep me alive?” is also yes. Does this mean, then that we should disdain fruit, meat, and even the occasional slice of cake if those foods are available?

In some lives and in some situations, there will be “only” Jesus. We may lose a spouse, our children, our home - seemingly every enjoyment we have. And, in those situations, yes, we will find that he is, really and truly, enough. But, I believe wisdom teaches us that such lives are entered into only under God’s providence. They are not to be pursued as self-imposed obligations.

Prayer, worship, Bible study, and fellowship are the bread of the spiritual life, but they are not the only remedies for our ailing souls. Indeed, they become even more effective when joined with other holy “creational” pleasures. When you feel free – indeed, feel determined – to cultivate and enjoy soul-filling pleasures, you will live so full you won’t have much time to dwell on the negative or the illicit. This is God’s intended, more powerful way to live in relationship with Christ, to worship him, and show his goodness to a hungry world.