When Is Enough Enough?

Welcome to Part 6 in our 8-part series, Sweeter Than Honey, where we’ll use the rich imagery of bees, honey, and the rhythms of creation to explore how Sabbath invites us to step out of exhaustion and rediscover the sweetness, rest, and delight found in the presence of God.

Exodus 16:4

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.”

A couple years ago, I attended a Sabbath retreat where the speaker encouraged us to meditate on Exodus 16:4:

“The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.”

One word lingered in my heart:

ENOUGH

The Israelites were instructed to gather enough manna for the day. Not excess. Not endless accumulation. Only enough.

And I realized something uncomfortable:

My life was filled with far more than enough.

Maybe yours is too. Our culture glorifies overcommitment. We work constantly, overfilling our schedules and saying yes to everything. We exhaust ourselves trying to keep up.

But if we collapse onto the couch at the end of the day so thoroughly exhausted that we cannot have a meaningful conversation with our spouse or cuddle with our children as we kiss them goodnight, then we surpassed ENOUGH a long time ago.

I often think about the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. 

Looking at verses 38-42, we read, As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I can almost hear the Lord saying to me, “Joy, Joy, you are worried and upset about many things, but you have done ENOUGH today.  Only one thing is needed.  Sit at my feet and let my words be sweet as honey.  Sit at my feet and say with the psalmist “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

What if Sabbath is partially about relearning the word enough?

Enough work. Enough striving. Enough achievement. Enough proving ourselves.

Because only one thing is truly necessary.

To sit at the feet of Jesus and let His words become sweeter than honey again.