How much is Enough?:
Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture
Arthur Simon

I ran across this book by accident but the title immediately caught my attention. (So, I looked it up on Amazon and found it used for 70 cents, less than a candy bar.) It is not a how to book; there are no pages that outline exactly how much is enough. For anyone who seeks to follow Jesus, Simon, reminds the reader of Jesus’ words without softening them. He deals with the realities of our world- consumption, materialism, and poverty- in a non-judgmental way. He attempts to answer the question, "Why in the face of unprecedented affluence, do so many people feel discontent?" Simon highlights the fact that Christians have a moral obligation to help those who are needy and challenges us to live that call:

“Hunger is a scandal because it is a moral outrage and a violation of human dignity…It is not hunger in itself that is offensive, but the fact that people needlessly go hungry and they do so in part because of the indifference of believers.”

Simon lays out his own struggles with living the Christian life and gives examples of otherwise unknown people who have given out of their need, rather than their surplus. When his teenage son confesses he wants to be a stockbroker and a millionaire by age thirty, Simon tells him, “I would be deeply hurt to have failed so badly (as a parent).”

This is an honest and challenging book that mandates an examination of one’s life as a Christian. If you are serious about living as a disciple of Christ and you desire to live more simply, then this book is a must read. If you take it to heart you will never be the same.