Not Enough

It would probably scare us to tabulate how many times in a week we hear the phrase "not enough." There's not enough money; there's not enough time; there's not enough information, whatever. Advertising depends on convincing you that you don't have enough. However many television options you have on your DirectTV, you need more. However many applications you have for your Blackberry, you don't have enough. And the worst of the "not enough" messages come when they're applied to people. You're not pretty enough, you're not smart enough, you're not good enough, you're not well enough informed, you're not interesting enough, you're not appealing enough, you're not old enough, or you're not young enough. There is no shortage of "you're not enough" messages.

Jesus wasn't enough, when you think about it. He was an unemployed carpenter from a backwoods, nowhere town, with no pedigree, no formal education, and no wealth. He wasn't enough of anything. So why did so many people defined by "not enough" respond so willingly to his simple invitation to "follow me."

Consider these questions:

What was the latest "not enough" message you heard or the latest "not enough" conversation you had?

When have you felt as though you were "not enough" in some way?

What "not enough" messages surrounded Jesus' contemporaries during his pre-crucifixion ministry?

Have churches sent "you're not enough" messages to people? If so, how?

What was Jesus' appeal to those who felt they were "not enough"?

More on "not enough" on Friday. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.