Abundance vs. Scarcity

I saw a video clip of a young boy who appeared to be about six years old. He had glossy dark hair, big brown eyes, and light brown skin. He was beautiful. I’m not positive, but I would guess he was most likely from somewhere in South America. His face was smeared with dust. His clothing was worn and stained. He had a plate of food in front of him, but not food like you and I eat. His food was smooth and bright yellow. It was a thick mixture with a consistency like pudding poured onto a metal pan and he used his fingers like a spoon to scoop it up and put it into his mouth. He was sitting next to another boy who appeared a little bit older. Though he smiled as he ate, tears rolled uncontrollably down his face leaving veiny streaks in the dust on his cheeks. I was taken aback by this child and his emotion, but not because sadness was sown in his weeping. It wasn’t hopelessness seen in his uncontrolled tears. You see, as I copied the subtitles into google translate, I found this precious boy was crying because he was hungry and someone had provided him with food to fill his empty stomach. It was then I realized gratitude fueled his tears. It was a picture of true scarcity, yet, somehow it was also true abundance.

Scarcity is simply defined as lack or things running low or running out. It’s a real situation. Our culture, however, has made it a mindset and it is running rampant. Sadly, it’s somehow bled into Christianity as well. Where we see real physical scarcity like in the video I described above, we can easily see a spiritual scarcity in how we interact with God and how we trust His ability to provide.  This mindset began further back than you would think. We can go all the way back to the Garden of Eden and see a scarcity mindset begin to take root when Adam and Eve encountered the serpent. The enemy not only tempted Eve to question what God commanded them about the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, He made them question the abundance they were provided. He planted the thought that what God had provided out of His abundance wasn’t enough and they needed and even deserved more.

The truth is, God has provided everything we need according to His riches in Christ Jesus and those riches flow from His abundance. His provision is complete and perfected in His power. I know these things in my spirit and I’m reminded of the truth in His Word and by His creation. Even so, I sometimes find myself in a mindset that tells me there isn’t enough room for my gifts, there isn’t space for what God has called me to do, or God may not work all things out like He promised. It tells me to look for abundance and provision elsewhere and tempts me to try to make things happen in my own power. This mindset is a thief and a liar. God’s abundance can’t be limited to monetary riches or possessions as the world would have it. It isn’t shifting as opportunity comes or goes. True abundance, found only in Christ, is about the Kingdom of God and His glory. Because of that, we can’t lose it. It is ours because we are His.

How do we combat a mindset of scarcity and replace it with one of abundance? First, we have to practice gratitude. When gratitude leads, it is much harder to feel like there is lack. There was so much gratitude spilling from that little boy in the video. He didn’t care how he was perceived. He didn’t care who was seated around him. He didn’t care what the food in front of him looked like. He had been provided for out of abundance and he was thankful. Second, we must open our eyes to see all God has provided in our lives. Recognition can serve as a catalyst for remembering what we quickly forget. Third and most importantly, we have to trust God. Whatever you need, trust Him with it. Whether its sudden or something you’ve desperately waited on the Lord for, He is completely trustworthy as your source of life. It may feel like He is taking away more than He is giving. You may watch others step into places you feel called to serve. You may feel rejected or abandoned somehow. Whatever your circumstance, trust Him. Trusting God as Jehovah Jireh, the Provider, heals a scarcity mindset because we are trusting the very one who holds abundance in His hands. He is enough, friend. He is so much more than enough.