March 6 2000

ARTICLE TOOLS

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In the movie Out of Africa, the lead character, Baroness Blixen, returns to Africa from a visit to Denmark. Her Muslim servant, Farah, meets her at the train station. Upon seeing her, he asks, "Are you well, Msabu?" She replies, "I am well, Farah." She then asks him, "And you, Farah, are you well?" Farah replies, "I am well enough, Msabu."

I am well enough. What an amazing statement of contentment. And in our time, how rare a sentiment.

Periodically, business magazines run "comparative salary surveys" describing what people in various jobs are paid on average. The implied question for readers is "Are you paid well?" What a great response it would be to say: "I am paid well enough."

Wouldn't it be healthy to be able to answer the question How big is your house? with "It is big enough"? Or your TV: "The screen is large enough." Or your church's membership: "Our church is big enough!"

Contentment in life is a biblical goal. The apostle Paul said he had "learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11, NIV). And the letter to the Hebrews encouraged its readers to keep their "lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have" (Hebrews 13:5).

Contentment is indeed a biblical goal, but not everyone sees it in terms of having enough. Certainly the commercial world doesn't. The dominant message of most retail advertising is more. Now 15 percent larger! screams the streamer at the top of the cereal box. Have you ever seen a product advertised as being Good enough or Large enough?

No business sector is more affected by the drive to "get more" than the financial-planning industry. Just read the advertisements for mutual funds: "Higher Returns With Us!" is the message, not "Our returns are enough." The ...