Today´s reading:
OT: Genesis 26:17-XX, Genesis 27
NT: Matthew 9:1-17
Ps: Psalm 10:16-18
Pr: Proverbs 3:9-10
Today´s notable verse:
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Matthew 9:13 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog notes:
How do you find yourself operating in your own life – more often out of the scarcity mentality or the abundance mentality? Do you see the risk of the scarcity mentality? And the blessing of the abundance mentality? Do you believe that there is Room Enough?
The concept of abundance versus scarcity mentality is related to self- versus Christ- or other-centered thinking. If I believe that God is able to provide more than enough (abundance), then I am freed to consider the needs of others, and rely upon God to take care of my own. If, however, I fear that due to scarcity I must fend for myself, I will first take care of my own needs, to the exclusion of others. Abundance mentality results from faith; scarcity mentality from fear. Abundance mentality results from believing that God is able to provide immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 4:20), and that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Borrowing again from Steven Covey’s Seven Habits, abundance mentality leads to “Win-Win” thinking – if God can provide more than enough, then I can concentrate on meeting the needs of others (they “win”) while believing that God will provide for me as well (I “win”). The key is to be able to concentrate on meeting the needs of others even to the risk of our own, temporary loss. But I can attest that God is faithful; I have never gone through an experience in which I sacrificed my own needs to meet another’s, and God did not, in the end, see that my own needs were also met.
Comments
5 responses to “OYB: January 12”
CB,
>>Abundance mentality results from faith; scarcity mentality from fear.>>
Well said, that is a memorable quote.
Thanks,
Ramona from OYB
Good evening Ramona!
Thanks; I wish I could take credit, but to me, I just followed the thought to its logical conclusion…
The scarcity mentality arises from the conflict between our needs and our wants.
Looking back on my life, I can easily see that God has always provided abundantly, and that my needs have always been met. Yet still, a part of me always wants more, and worries that my needs will go wanting – despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
During moments like these, it seems I’ve taken God out of the equation. Which is a horrible thought.
thanks for further illustrating this point 🙂
it helps.
thanks for the bible verses as well.
Jared,
So right! You know what they say about hindsight, but probably each of us can look back on our past experiences and see how God fulfilled our needs, and how badly we failed at the time to recognize His ability to see us through.
fl,
I’m humbled that anyone would even read what I have to say; but give thanks to God, if He has used me to help others!