Living In Lack In The Middle Of Abundance

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Introduction:

As Christians, if we are called to live in the abundance of God’s provision, love, and grace, why are so many of us living in a mindset of lack—spiritually, emotionally, and even materially? Why do we say that we serve a God of abundance, and settle for scarcity?

In John 10:10, Jesus said that His purpose is that we may have life and have it abundantly. Hear me when I say this… The abundance that Jesus gives goes beyond material possessions; it encompasses every part of our lives— He came to give us abundance in our relationships, abundance in our peace, abundance in our joy, and abundance in our purpose. If Jesus came to give us abundance why do so many Christians live in lack?

Today let’s look at how to shift our mindset and lifestyle to embrace the fullness of God’s abundance.

1. We Settle for Lack because of the Lies of the Thief (fear, doubt, unbelief)

Jesus makes it clear in John 10:10 that the enemy’s goal is to “steal, kill, and destroy.” One of Satan’s most effective strategies is deceiving Christians into living in a mindset of lack. He uses lies to make us doubt God's provision and goodness, which keeps us from walking in the abundant life Jesus offers.

Fear is a paralyzing force. We see fear manifest in many areas of life, whether it's the fear of financial instability, the fear of losing relationships, or the fear of not being enough. When we become consumed by fear, we lose sight of the truth that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Jesus assures us that we don’t need to fear because He is our Shepherd who our every need (Psalm 23) The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want. But we hear the enemy whisper, “You won’t have enough,” and it causes us to cling tightly to what we have instead of trusting God to multiply it.

Doubt begins as a small question: "Will God really provide everything I need?" The first temptation in the Garden of Eden used the seed of doubt: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). When we start to rely more on ourselves than on God’s promises it can allow doubt to grow into disbelief. When we doubt, we can miss the abundance that God wants to pour into our lives because doubt causes us to rely on ourself and to rely on our timing and not God’s.

Unbelief is a settled conviction that God’s abundance is not for us. It’s the thought that says, “This is just how things are.” “It is what it is” Unbelief blocks us from receiving God’s blessings. In Mark 6:5-6, Jesus couldn’t perform many miracles in His hometown… Why? Because of the people’s unbelief. If we do not believe that God is able and willing to bless us, we are closing the door to His abundance.

2. How do we define God’s Abundance ?

To often in today’s world we equate abundance with material wealth, but God’s definition of abundance is much more than that.

Spiritual Abundance: This is where true wealth lies. Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of an overflowing spiritual richness. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—are what marks a life lived in abundance. This kind of abundance cannot be taken away by economic downturns, we don’t lose it in a health crises, or relationship struggles. Paul, in Philippians 4:12-13, talks about learning the secret of being content in any situation: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

We need to remember…His strength and His presence are the true riches we are to seek.

God Provides for us because He knows our needs: In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” When we put The Kingdom of God first, we open ourselves up to His provision. That doesn’t mean we always get what we want, but it does mean He will meet every need.

God’s Generosity Overflows, and it isn’t just about receiving; it’s about overflowing with enough to share with others. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul writes, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” When we live generously, God makes sure that our needs are met so that we can continue to bless others. It’s like a divine cycle: the more we give, the more God pours into us, not so we can hoard, but so we can share.