The topic that you hear discussed everywhere is the state of our American economy. The DOW has declined about 30% in the last 6 weeks. Major corporations like GM and Chrysler are weeks from bankruptcy. Right across the street from my house sits a house that is in foreclosure. One does not have to be an analyst to realize that these are tough times. I lead an organization that relies on the generosity of others for operating funds. Though we are a relatively small church with a lean and trimmed budget, we still need to take in about $8000 a week to continue to serve our community as we presently do. When I look at our very limited cash reserves, I pray for wisdom in the decisions that are made about spending the Lord’s money and sometimes (I hate to admit this) I get afraid for the future!
In those moments, I hear the whisper of a spirit that I know is not the Holy Spirit urging me to cut ministries and/or trim missionary support so that we can “conserve the core.” That is exactly the wrong choice to make for it comes from fear and reveals a way of thinking called: a ‘scarcity mentality.’ When a person lets a scarcity mentality take over, he begins measuring the quality of his life by what he thinks he lacks rather than by what he has available to him. The perception of lack is born out of fear and where fear takes over, hoarding quickly follows.
Jesus urges us to live with an ‘abundance mentality!’ In this story He commends generosity that comes from faith that believes that God will provide. "Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” (Mark 12:41-44, The Message)
Nowhere in the Bible will you read anything about scarcity of resources! God designed the world to be full, rich, and replenishing! I don’t know who said it first, but it bears repeating: “Anybody can count the seeds in an apple, but only God knows how many apples are in a seed!” The key to peace in these troubled times is a mind that thinks God-thoughts. Jesus promises to meet our needs; not our wants, not even what we think we need, but what He knows that we need. He says, "Why be like the pagans (those who do not know God – my edit) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:32-33, NLT) God promises to meet our needs and directs us to be generous, not from our abundance, but from what we have in our hand right at this moment.
By the way, a scarcity vs. generosity mentality is not just about money! We apply God’s promise of provision to our love, to forgiveness, to mercy – yes, to all of life. Make God your resource. Put Him first, and learn to give it away.
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Now, he was working in his garden when I happened by.
He waved me over with that look in his eye
and started breaking off some ears of corn.
He said, "Here, boy, today, this corn is just right.
"Boil it up for your supper tonight
'cause I've learned it's true what my pappy used to say.
Nothing's quite as good until you give it away."
If you want more happy than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller, if the truth were told,
take whatever you have and give it away.
If you want less lonely and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open and give it away
There are two kind of folks, There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers and big-hearted liv’rs.
It depends on how we choose to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got or give it all away!
Copyright – Bill Gaither
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