Have you heard people refer to Christ as “sufficient?” For example, “You have suffered a hard loss, but Christ is sufficient.” 

I was thinking about that word—“sufficient”—this morning while I was riding my bicycle along the river trail. Just to be certain “sufficient” meant what I thought it meant, I looked it up in the dictionary when I got home: “sufficient (se-fish’-ent) adj. adequate to accomplish a purpose or complete a task.” 

By definition this means, Christ is adequate to get us into heaven; enough to get us by in life, and able to do through us those things required of us. 

I don’t think so! 

Although I seemingly discount the theological concept of “the sufficiency of Christ” in what I’m writing, I nevertheless conclude: Christ is not simply adequate. In fact, I don’t think the notion of Christ’s being adequate is scriptural. 

We used to sing a song at church that declared, “Christ is more than enough.” My heart was confident after singing that musical declaration. In fact, when writing about Christ’s adequacy, the words are flat. When writing about Him being more than enough, I feel exalted. 

To be honest, I’m not interested in being adequate. I’m not interested in writing adequate books, or doing adequate consulting work, or being an adequate husband or friend. 

I don’t hire or retain employees who only do what is required. I find committee work confining because committees are charged to bring a sufficient report and do adequate work. 

I don’t presume to speak for, or project my values upon, my Older Brother, Jesus Christ, but I just can’t believe He is content to simply be...adequate. Jesus Christ did not leave heaven and invade our world to be sufficient for God and make us adequate. 

If He is not adequate, then what is He? That's next.