Ich Habe Genug: The Parable of Enough
“Ich habe genug.”
“I have enough.”
These words, from Bach’s hauntingly beautiful Cantata No. 82, echoed in my heart this morning as I sat with my tea and the daily Pray as You Go meditation. The voice of Simeon, holding the infant Jesus in the temple, speaks across time:
“I have taken the Savior, the hope of the nations, into my arms. I have enough.”
It was as if heaven paused to ask me: “Can you say the same?”
The Rich Fool & Me
Today’s Gospel reading was from Luke 12: the parable of the rich man who, after a season of abundant harvest, says to himself:
“I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones... and say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”
But God replies,
“You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?”
I’ve read this parable before, but this time I didn’t just read it. I felt it.
Not as a warning for someone else—but as a personal mirror.
I’ve spent a large portion of my life planning wisely, investing, stewarding resources, creating security for the future. And in many ways, that’s been good. Biblical, even. But somewhere in the mix, I’ve also entertained a lie: that with enough foresight, enough cushions, enough “barns”... I can secure my soul.
Where My Soul Found Its Anchor
This morning, listening to the soft German melody of Ich habe genug, I felt another truth break through:
I already have what I’ve always wanted.
Not a number.
Not a net worth.
Not a future guarantee.
But a Savior.
Simeon didn’t say, “I’ve saved enough.” He said, “I’ve seen the Lord.”
That is what I want my life to rest upon. Not on projected income, or perfect health, or 5-year plans. But on the real, breathing, alive presence of Jesus. That, and only that, is enough.
What It Means to Be “Rich Toward God”
Jesus ends the parable with this line:
“So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
I had to ask myself honestly:
What does it mean to be rich in God’s sight?
Here’s what I’m learning—it means:
Surrendering control and embracing trust
Letting go of outcomes and clinging to obedience
Giving generously, even when it’s inconvenient
Finding joy in simplicity, not accumulation
Living as if my time, not my money, is my most precious asset
Speaking the words of Simeon in quiet moments of reflection:
“I have held the Savior in my arms. I have enough.”
What This Means for Me—and Maybe for You
If you're like me, you've built a life with vision and intention. You’ve worked hard. You’ve tried to be wise. But every now and then, Jesus invites us to a deeper wisdom.
One that asks: What are you really storing? And for whom?
This parable is not a condemnation of success—it’s a loving invitation to redefine it. To measure our days not by what we accumulate but by how well we trust.
A Final Whisper of Grace
I don’t want to be the man with full barns and an empty soul.
I want to be the one who wakes up each morning and says:
“Ich habe genug.”
“I have Jesus. I have enough.”
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the most radical kind of wealth there is.
✍️ Reflection Prompt:
What would change in your life if you truly believed you already had enough?
