Abundance Thinking Questions and Answers
Here are some of the questions we received from you over the past week and our short answers. We hope these are helpful as we learn together how to be Abundance Thinkers. Also, we will post additional answers to questions we continue to receive from your texts and emails.
Q: How does Abundance Thinking relate to “Prosperity Theology?”
Great question! Yes there are many of those who promote what is called Prosperity Theology—name it and claim it; or blab it and grab it. I’ve heard some of the guys on TV for example say that Jesus was wealthy, that the money bag was so full that Judas could steal from it without any of the disciples knowing; that Jesus wore designer robes! How silly is that! Jesus said, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20, NLT)
Jesus didn’t die on the cross to make you rich with the things of this earth. Abundance Thinking is not about abundance of things. If you have been listening to this series you know that we spent almost no time talking about Abundance Thinking in regards to material things. Abundance Thinking is about a way to think with firm confidence in God; being grateful for what God is doing in your life (no matter what the circumstances); and about developing a lifestyle of generosity that shows you believe “There is more than enough!”
"You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NLT)
"Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others." (1 Timothy 6:17-18, NLT)
Q: I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on how we view different personalities through the lens of Scarcity / Abundance. I can see that it is easy to label a mother who values security as a scarcity thinker, while an irresponsible young man could easily deceive himself into believing that he is trusting in God's abundance --Josh Mayes
The person who asked this question may have someone specific in mind. Obviously, we aren’t endorsing a frivolous / prodigal lifestyle! A lack of concern can indicate a lack of responsibility, but I want to address the phrase “a mother who values security…” The lust for security can lead to all kinds of trouble. This past week I talked with a man who had just lost his job. He was so troubled to go home and tell his wife because he felt she would leave him. I believe his fear came from the way his wife controlled the home. Desire for security can lead to taking control and when that’s in a marriage it can cause disastrous results. Being controlling can be a sign of scarcity thinking. It shows a lack of confidence in God; lack of gratitude and leads to being stingy—even hoarding.
Q: Are poverty, lost jobs, and suffering a sign that someone is stuck in "scarcity thinking?" Or to say it another way, “Are the people of Sierra Leone stuck in scarcity thinking since they are so poor?”
The people of Sierra Leone are only poor with respect to the material things of this world. I’ve told you about how joyful and happy they are—always smiling; so grateful for the little they have; generous in giving and serving others. They remind me of what the Apostle Paul said,
"Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything." (2 Corinthians 6:10, NLT)
Q: I know God takes care of me and always provides, but my weakness is money. When the bills are due and the $ amount in the bank isn't enough to cover them, how do I combat that stress? How do I think abundantly when there isn’t enough in the checkbook?
This is when (a) confidence in God; (b) being grateful for what you have; and (c) being generous in spite of a perceived lack is most important. Can you see how this is true? The lack you are experiencing may be caused by financial choices you have made in the past—choices that are contrary to what God has instructed for handling money. So your response should be one of “repentance”—admitting you messed up; turning around the other way; and beginning to make the corrections to bring your finances under God’s control. We have up to 100 people in this church who have just journeyed through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. They can share with you God’s plan for handling money and are able to share concepts that will free you from financial bondage. If you need to talk with someone, please write us a note or give us a call. We will contact you and help connect you with some valuable help.
Q: “Give ‘til it hurts.” I have a lot of debt. Which comes first? Give? Or hope God will provide more? --Anonymous
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey; no matter where you are in your finances you can’t put off giving to God until you get your finances squared away. Continued disobedience in giving will not bring God’s blessings. God wants you to give the first part of your income and trust Him to provide the rest. When you give the first part by faith, you are inviting God into your finances. He will then somehow multiply the rest and make it stretch—kind of like when Jesus fed the 5000 with a couple of fish sandwiches. That’s why we are instructed,
"Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines." (Proverbs 3:9-10, The Living Bible)
Q: Several questions we received were regarding “How do I get someone else to think abundantly?”
Trust God to work in their lives and learn to be an abundant thinker yourself! I have learned that I’m not good at being the Holy Spirit. I applied for that job and found the position is already filled! I need to trust God to work in the lives of others. No matter how hard I try I can’t control the choices others make. But with God’s help I can control how I respond to any situation. Abundance Thinking is filled with confidence in God that “he who began a good work in someone will continue it until Christ returns” (Phil. 1:6).
Q: How is Abundance Thinking related to the End of Days?
Paul gave us the specific answer to this question when he wrote,
"And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed." (Titus 2:12-13, NLT)
In other words, think abundantly, live obediently and love God completely—all the while looking forward to the day when Christ returns.
Q: How do you keep trusting in God when the one thing you really want (marriage in my case) is the one thing that keeps eluding you? –Anonymous
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Scarcity Thinking |
Abundance Thinking |
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I don’t trust God has good planned for my future. |
I believe God has good plans for me because he says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). So I am trusting that God will direct my future. |
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I don’t believe I will ever be married. |
I am confident that as I delight myself in the Lord he will give me the desires of my heart (Psa 37:4) |
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I’m disappointed with God’s lack of providing a spouse for me. |
I’m grateful for all of the blessings God has poured out on me and I will focus on my blessings. |
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I don’t feel like ministering to others since God hasn’t given me what I want. |
I pour out my life in service to God by giving freely to others as God directs. |
The Apostle Paul struggled with his circumstances. Notice how he say, "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." (2 Corinthians 12:8-9, NLT)
God said an emphatic “No!” to Paul’s request.
Paul responded by saying, “I will praise God because I’m even more effective in my current circumstances!”
Q: What do you say to a believer who is ready to reject his/her life in Christ because of the hurt and unconfessed sin of other supposed believers? What if you can't fathom Heaven with them there? Where is God's abundance when repentance is so scarce and rare? --Anonymous
It’s no shock that Christians are one of the biggest obstacles to some people connecting with God. We Christ-followers need to be the real thing so that we can as Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NKJV)
But God can work in someone’s heart even when Christians don’t act like they should. He is at work drawing people to Himself in spite of the bad example of many who call themselves Christians.
It would be a shame for your friend to turn away from God. This would only be harmful to him. But be confident that a genuine believer is safe in Christ’s hand. We can have confidence in that! This is why Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand." (John 10:27-29, NLT)
(Please note: this was posted by George Wiley of Heartland Church, questions answered by Gary Stump & Darryn Scheske)
