If you’ve ever been around someone from the depression era, you’ve seen what a scarcity mindset looks like. Very little is thrown away. They utilize everything to its limit and they’re very frugal. They probably still have their lunch money from the third grade. They never feel like they have enough and it can affect their generosity. By contrast, if you’ve been around anyone born in the last forty years,you’ve seen someone with an abundance mindset. They seem to place little value on what they own because they can just get another one. They’re very free with their money and live in the moment. To them there will always be more than enough. It’s amazing how these mindsets affect every area of life, including generosity, contentment and gratitude.
The disciples had a scarcity mindset. They blocked the little children from coming to Jesus because there wasn’t enough of Him to go around. When they told Jesus to send the people away to eat and He told them to feed them, they looked at how much money it would take and it wasn’t enough. When they had five loaves and two fish, it wasn’t enough. However, Jesus had an abundance mindset and He wanted to teach them a lesson. He took what little they had to show them if they were generous and if they trusted Him, they would have more than enough. After feeding the five thousand, He sent them out with baskets to gather the leftovers. Each disciple had a basket full. It was enough for them to keep giving. He was trying to change their mindset to one of trust and abundance.
In Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (NLT). Again He was teaching us that we have to get past our scarcity mindset to receive the blessings He has for us. The measure we give is the same measure He uses to bless us with. If we have a scarcity mindset in giving, we will miss out on the abundance of God. If we never feel like we have enough and hold tight to everything entrusted to us, we’re like the guy who buried His talent in the sand. That’s what a scarcity mindset looks like. God will supply all YOUR needs according to HIS riches. It’s not about how much you have. It’s about how much do you trust Him with what you have. When you take what little you have and put it in His hands, it becomes more than enough. Pray about what that looks like for you and ask Him for an abundant mindset so you can experience the overflow.
Photo by Paz Arando on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 