Abundance Or Scarcity?

Aug 15, 2023

There seems to be a lot of talk these days about a scarcity mindset versus growth mindset.

How will you operate in your job? Are you fearful of doing anything outside of your job description? Do you jump in and help others? We can’t move forward in an organization without coming up with new creative ideas.

When we open the Scriptures we can view mindset from a similar perspective. I listen to the Bible Project and Tim Mackie approaches the mindset as Scarcity or Abundance.

Let’s think about the Old Testament and some examples of how God’s people haven’t always operated in the Abundance mindset, right from the beginning.

When we look at Genesis 1, we see that everything God created was good! As a matter of fact, He says it seven times after each day of creation. In Genesis 2, after God creates man and the lush beautiful garden with rivers flowing through it, He places man in the garden. Let’s pick it up in Genesis 2 verses 15-16.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

- Genesis 2:15-16

God quickly realized that this wasn’t a one man job; Adam needed a helper so He created a woman. I think we all know what happens from there, when Adam and Eve realized the serpent promised them the wisdom of God. They responded with a Scarcity mindset. They didn’t trust God to provide all they needed.

Of course, after they are exiled from Eden, Cain and Abel are born. Abel kept the flocks and Cain worked the soil. God was providing the abundance they needed… let’s pick it up in Genesis 4:3-8:

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

- Genesis 4:3-8

Cain’s offering was out of a scarcity mindset, but Abel’s out of trusting God for His abundance. And how did Cain respond? He murdered his brother!

I could continue throughout the Old Testament with the Tower of Babel, Noah, wandering Israelites, and on and on.

Jesus sacrificed His life for us so we can live in faith in God’s abundance.

As you go throughout your day, ponder the question: Do I live my life in a scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset? Do I trust God will walk with me and take care of me no matter what comes my way?