Proverbs 30:5-9; Psalm 118(119):28,72,89,101,104,163; Luke 9:1-6
What is 'sufficient'? This is quite a challenging question for each of us. Almost everyone in this country has riches beyond compare with those of two thirds of the world. But of course we do tend to compare ourselves with those we see around us, and do not see the others. Giving what we can to help is common - we are very generous as a people and as a Parish.
It is also very true to say that when we spend, we are creating work (and therefore creating income and dignity) for those who make what we use. We should of course, and probably do, think about those who have made what we consume and ask ourselves are we buying responsibly and ethically, from organisations that do treat their members with dignity and honour them with a fair wage that enables them to live without want? Do they pay their executives that which enables them to live without needing to depend on the Lord, and therefore, to fall away from Him?
This is what the reading from Proverbs today is talking about.
and also, this is what 'give us this day our daily bread' means in the Our Father.
We may be thinking that we have little choice - we can only afford to buy food and clothing that are sourced by exploiting other people. If that is the case you may well be the victim of others greed: but we certainly should avoid it whenever we can. The Psalm today perhaps gives us a prayer that we can say every time we go shopping - "Your word is a lamp for my steps, O Lord".