The Gift of Having Enough

Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” (Genesis 33:8-9)

When Jacob was last in the presence of his brother Esau, he heard his twin vow to kill him at his earliest opportunity. That was more than enough to make Jacob run as far as he could to the east, until he met and married into his mother’s family.

Now, after 20 years, Jacob was returning to Canaan and knew he would meet Esau. Jacob was terrified, remembering Esau’s threats and knowing his brother was the kind of rough man who could fulfill every violent promise.

Jacob hoped to calm Esau’s temper with gifts. According to Genesis 32:13-20, Jacob’s gift included 220 goats, 60 camels, 40 cows, 10 bulls, and 30 donkeys. After receiving the gift, Esau finally met Jacob and first said to him, What do you mean by all this company which I met? Jacob’s generous gifts confused Esau. He did not expect them, showing that he had no sense of superiority over Jacob or did not have a strong sense that Jacob owed him.

The true beauty of Esau’s character is found in the phrase he used to reply to Jacob: I have enough. He initially refused his brother’s generous gift because was content with what he had. Esau wasn’t dominated by the itch to have more and more. He had enough.

It’s a great thing for every believer to say: I have enough. It communicates the heart of what Paul described in 1 Timothy 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain. This godly contentment is essential, yet difficult for many reasons.

– Saying I have enough is only truly possible when the heart is rooted in eternal things; and contentment is essential because it shows we are living with an eternal perspective, not only trying to feather an earthly nest.

– Saying I have enough is difficult, because modern consumer culture feeds our lack of contentment, by rewarding us when we are discontent, and with advertising that tries to make us feel discontent without buying a certain item or experience.

– Saying I have enough is difficult, because we almost always desire far more than we need.

It’s easy for many Christians to say they have this contentment; but whether they have it or not is often more truthfully known by looking at their spending and shopping habits. How much of a place does shopping and buying have in your life? How does the loss of material things affect your happiness? How happy do you get from having some material thing?

Esau’s peace and contentment showed him to be a remarkably blessed man, though he did not receive the promise of the Abrahamic covenant as he had hoped.

May you receive the great gift of being able to say, I have enough.