BOOK REVIEW

Name of Book:  Enough Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity

Authors:  Adam Hamilton

Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 2009. ISBN: 978-1-426-70233-4             

Summary of purpose of book

It was written in 2009, at the time of the 2008 stock market plunge, banking failures, increase in joblessness and economic woes.

I believe it also works well at this time; when economic woes, joblessness, etc. are being felt as a result of the pandemic and closures in 2020.

Adam Hamilton suggests that “joy and contentment is found in simplicity and generosity in faith and in pursing your purpose in life. I’m not advocating that any of live in poverty, but that we cultivate contentment and re-evaluate what constitutes the “good life”.[1]

He goes on to say, and I agree, that money is morally neutral. It can be used for good or evil. It is the love of money that Scripture says is at the root of all kinds of evil.

Hamilton would like us to read the book to see our money and our possessions with new eyes remembering, as Jesus taught, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Lk 12:15)

Information on Author of Book

Adam Hamilton is pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, a church he formed in 1990 in Kansas. It has approximately 22,000 members and four sanctuaries. In addition to being a United Methodist pastor, he is also a much-requested speaker and writer, having spoken at the Upper New York Conference as well.

Notes from book: 

When Dreams Become Nightmares - We are encouraged by the world to live beyond our means, bigger houses, newer cars, more and more. But the American Dream is often a nightmare. In this chapter, he presents what he believes is the Bible’s solution to this problem of American Dream, credit-it is, affluenza.

Wisdom and Finance - Talks about money wasters and the question “what is your life purpose?” He lists six financial planning principles: (1) pay your tithe and offering first; (2) create a budget and track your expenses; ( 3) simplify your lifestyle; (4) establish an emergency fund; (5) pay off credit cards, use cash and debit cars only, use credit wisely; and (6) practice long-term savings and investing habits

Cultivating Contentment – He lists four keys to cultivating contentment: (1) remember that it could be worse; (2) ask yourself, how long will this make me happy; (3 ) develop a grateful heart; (4) ask yourself, where does my soul find true satisfaction? There are also gives five steps for simplifying our lives.

Defined by Generosity - What is your theology of generosity? What is the theological foundation for generosity? This section talks about generosity, what it means to God and what happens when we are generous.

Epilogue: Overcoming Fear - Fear is built into us as a defense mechanism. The problem is it’s hard to tell if something is a real threat, and we sometimes feel fear when there isn’t a real threat. Hamilton gives three keys to overcoming fear: (1) trust God; (2) offer gratitude; and (3 ) live a life of service and generosity to others.

The last section in the book takes the Scripture, the questions, the concepts that Hamilton spends time with in this book and ends with specific help and lays out the six financial planning steps. He also provides fifteen financial management tips and even a strategy to pay off credit cards.

Personal Opinion

Each chapter ends with some reflection questions and scripture to consider after reading the chapter. These questions are very helpful for the reader to use in dealing with their own understanding of money and debt and generosity. How each of us learned about money; how money was treated when we were a child; also reflects

The financial management assessment tools are very important, but are simplified for the purposes of the book. These tools should be used together with detailed financial management work and working with a financial coach, as needed.

The book reads easily and quickly. It gives good common-sense solutions; and thought-provoking questions that can help someone approaching their money and their finances and their generosity in the way that God intended.

It can be used by one person reading; as a small group study; as part of a financial management process in the local church; and in many different ways.

 

---

[1] Pages 6-7