We are people of abundance. 

Christ looked at a hungry crowd, broke five loaves and two fish, and fed a multitude. Later, he broke his body and shed his blood to feed the hungry world.

The Triune God is infinite and eternal with no beginning and no end, the source of all life and creation. Under our infinite Creator, there can be no such thing as scarcity. 

But we live in this world, which, since the fall of humanity (Genesis 3) has included sin. With sin comes competition, hoarding, lording over, and oppression. After the fall, human relationships lost their perfect harmony and these relational distortions began to impact human systems from the most fundamental (marriage and family) to the most complex (cultures, countries, institutions).

As Christians, we live stuck between the two realities. We are people of abundance living in systems of scarcity. 

We believe in a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). We understand generosity and sharing are biblical values (Acts 2). But the lie of scarcity is constantly chasing after us and embedded in the systems we live and work within.

Competition over resources became normative in the human story, even while it is built on an illusion that there is not enough to go around. Each person grabs and takes and steals and strives to survive because we refuse to live by God’s created order. One person hoards and another person has to steal, but God gives to us so we can share with each person according to their need. God then replenishes and refills that which we give away. But we do not trust others to give back to us if we give away, so we feel justified in participating in the scarcity game.

Because sin moves from individuals into systems, the lie of scarcity becomes the bedrock of systemic injustice. Unfortunately, even institutions set up to give out resources or to give away Jesus himself are layered with models of scarcity within and the evil thought that there is not enough to go around. We bury it in “common sense” practices called practicality and frugality. We even dare to call it stewardship. But, search the system to see if anyone is fearful, if anyone’s needs are going unmet, if anyone is lacking dignity, and you will know that you are not operating in godliness. I would be hard-pressed to find a system this side of heaven that does not have at least one, if not all, of these characteristics.

Why did Jesus tell us to pray for daily bread? God’s systems are not like ours. God is not like a socialist government who wants to give each person one loaf of bread. God is not like a capitalist society where each person has to fend for their own bread based on their individual resources to grow capital. Instead, picture God in heaven listening to all the prayers for bread, giving enough for everyone to have bread, as long as we all pass it along and move it freely from one to another. God’s ecosystem is communal. If he wanted it to be individual (just us and God) he would distribute all resources equally. Instead he has created a world where there is enough, and he asks us to represent him on earth in how we handle these resources.

As soon as we begin to tell ourselves that resources are limited, we are in danger. Every impulse to hoard instead of sharing what we have when we have it is based on that same lie. It is surprising how much these lies can influence us.

I believe in abundance with all of my heart, but when I look at systems of scarcity, I begin to grumble. I feel oppressed. I direct my anger at the people withholding instead of bending my knee to the One Who Provides. Putting my focus on the system of scarcity instead of the source of Abundance invites scarcity into my heart, both to rule over me and to shape me. Rather than resisting the false systems, I become tempted to replicate them. Rather than ignoring their false powers, I let them dictate my worth and value. It takes everything in me to realign and resist so that my checkbook is not just for me and my worth is not defined by my paycheck (or lack thereof). 

Here are some lies and truths to help us examine our hearts and actions.

Lie #1 – Resources are limited. 

Truth #1 – God has unlimited resources. Your resources come from God, the infinite source, not you. (Psalm 50:10)

Lie #2 – If we were treated in the spirit of scarcity, then it’s “fair” for others to go through the same.

Truth #2 – God’s economy operates on generosity and the equal dignity of each person, not “fairness.” (Matthew 20:1-16)

Lie #3 – Resources are just between me and God. 

Truth #3 – Resources are meant to be communal. God gives them to us in differing amounts so that we move them where there is need. (Act 2:45)

Lie #4 – If I spend what God has given me, there will be nothing left. 

Truth #4 – Resources are meant to be stewarded, not hoarded. When resources are used, God renews resources both directly from him and through others because he is the source. (1 Kings 17:12-14)

Lie #5 – My worth is determined by my net worth as portrayed by the system of scarcity. 

Truth #5 – Every person has non-quantifiable worth according to their status as an image-bearer of God. (Genesis 1:27-30)

These lies and truths present a real challenge for us as believers. We knows the truths, but we also believe the lies, which means we have some choices to make.

1. We can choose the most depraved option and embrace scarcity all the time and watch out for just ourselves and our own. (Fortunately, I do not know many people who do this).
2. We can embrace scarcity first and abundance second once we reach a comfortable threshold so that minimal sacrifice or faith is required. In other words, we can see ourselves as the meaingful source (not God). When our abundance is obvious, we can give. (Ex: When I get a raise, I will use it to help others in need)
3. We can embrace the better option and practice generosity within the constraints of systems of scarcity. In other words, we can be individually generous out of whatever we have been given ownership over even when there is no obvious abundance in a limited system. (Ex: As a manager, I will use the funds in my department to give raises to my employees even though expenses are tight)
4. We can embrace the best option and turn to prayer, faith, and trust that if we release resources, God will also release them to us. We can buck the distorted system, live beyond its constraints, and reject its false messages. (Ex: I will spend my last penny for my neighbor and trust God to care for me)

I am working on moving from option 3 to option 4 and believing, in faith, in the God of Abundance rather than bending the knee to the gods of scarcity. It is a daily battle. I understand the illusion that we call reality, but I’m trying to live more deeply out of the reality that some call an illusion.