You’ve heard them. More cliches than you want to think about. “We have to think outside the box”. “We’re pushing the edge of the envelope”. “Fail to plan and you plan to fail”. I want to dust off another cliche – it’s time for a paradigm shift. It makes me uncomfortable to even see it on my computer screen, but it is something I have been thinking a lot about lately.
To use another cliche – we are living in difficult economic times. Now let’s get back to my first cliche – paradigm shift. Maybe a paradigm shift is what we need for these “difficult economic times”. I think it was Stephen Covey who first introduced me to the dichotomy of scarcity and abundance mentalities. When we live in a scarcity mentality, we feel we have to hoard and protect, because otherwise there just may not be enough. Living in an abundance mentality we see the world as having enough for everybody and I can afford to share. That’s the paradigm shift I think we need to make. Let me be clear – I’m not talking about a prosperity gospel. I’m not saying that with enough faith you will have a Cadillac Escalade in your driveway and a seven-figure bank account. I’m just affirming the truth of Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
This is true for us individually and as churches and ministries. There is indeed enough for us. We have to be wise stewards, but we cannot allow ourselves to become paralyzed by the present financial “challenges”. As we face decisions, the questions we ask reflect our mindset. If we live in a scarcity mentality, we ask “Can I?” If we live with an abundance mentality, we ask “How can I?” Scarcity spawns the question “What happens if this fails?” Abundance asks, “What will happen if I don’t try?”
Well enough for now. I’ll just put my shoulder to the wheel and keep my nose to grindstone.
Len, what are you thinking?!? Money doesn’t grow on trees! You have to look before you leap. You have to measure twice and cut once. But the early bird gets the worm!
Len, i have believed for many years in what Jesus spoke about in Matthew, that we are too do unto others as unto him. Everything we have is the Lord s. He intrusted too each of us a different level of finances. So if say as Christians that we live by faith and that we love our brother or sister, then giving out of our abundance should be a no brainer if we want to be recognized as one of the sheep of his pasture as Jesus mentioned. But to give unto others out of our scarcity requires a step of faith and love for our brother that will in the end, reward us with the ultimate blessing. And that we might see in this life and if not, certainly in the next.
EXample: the Widow who put in her last only coin, also the woman who offered all the oil she had and it never ran out. God is faithful if we are.