Have you ever thought the abundance of the wealthy has precluded you from enjoying the same? Have you ever credited your lack of advancement to limited resources, unlucky circumstances or external factors holding you back? Though you may be tempted to think any of those are the reason, there is something even more powerful holding you back. That is your own mindset. Reset your abundance mindset to think as abundantly as God does.
The scarcity mindset thinks “There isn’t enough wealth for everyone to go around, so whoever get’s it first has the big break and the rest of us are stuck to eek out a meager living.” It’s my upbringing, society and lack of opportunity that holds me back.
Two favorite words of the scarcity mindset are “I can’t”.
God’s Abundance on Earth
However, God has made a vast expanse in creation. The earth’s produce is abundant and He is a God of abundance. His equation is addition and multiplication, not subtraction or division.
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” was His command.
Jesus told parables of a farmers reaping 100 fold. And it certainly happens in reality.
And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.
Genesis 26:12-13 (ESV)
So why does it so often seem like a struggle?
A large part of the answer is in our mind. If we say, “I can’t”, then you certainly won’t. But if you change the statement to the question, “how can I?” now your brain stays working on the solution.
God’s Abundance in Heaven
God’s abundance goes far beyond this earth. He also has rendered tremendous spiritual abundance, as described in Ephesians 1.
I’ll list more of them in the future, but for now, look at this one:
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
Can you see the theme here? God’s abundance applies to life on this earth and in heaven.
Your Abundance Mindset
If you turn your inward eyeballs off yourself and onto others, you will see the abundance of God.
Serve first. Provide value. Be generous and ready to share. Jesus said:
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 (ESV)
Successful business creates abundant value for others and therefore obtains abundant wealth. This principle rings true for individuals and corporations alike.
No one ever “cut” their way to wealth. You cannot build wealth clipping coupons, or driving across town to buy the “cheaper gas”. Those are products of the scarcity mindset, and they aren’t focused on helping others. In fact they tend toward selfishness.
The abundance mindset seeks ways to produce more and share more. It’s almost always focused on the supply side. God has created abundance and wants us to use it and grow it, both physically and spiritually.
“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
Zig Ziglar
Reflect
- How will you create value for others today?
- Are focused on cutting back or growing more?
- How will you change your vocabulary from “I can’t” to “How can I”?
Going deeper you may also like: Reset Your Mindset
