I have been a pastor for more than 20 years and worked in churches even longer. And something that has been consistent over all those years is the cry that there is not enough.
- Not enough money to pay the bills.
- Not enough people to serve.
- Not enough leaders to coordinate.
- Not enough talent and ability to get the job done.
The mantra is “we can’t.” Somewhere along the way I heard this doubt described as the “Spirit of Poverty.” It is not poverty itself but it is living with a poverty mindset that there is not enough. There are people in this world who are poor but they are rich. There are also people in this world who are rich but are poor. You may have limited resources but there is a God who is unlimited. With God in your life, you will always be rich.
It goes back to our trust in God. Do God’s work, God’s way, and trust in his supply. The idea is that if you are doing God’s work, you cannot fail. If you are following his lead and his plan, he will make a way. And if you come up to a dead-end, it just might be that you were following your plan rather than God’s plan. Or maybe it is that you are trying to do more than he would have you do.
I am not talking about the prosperity gospel that teaches if you believe hard enough that God will give you everything you want. God is not a genie in the bottle. I recently saw an ad on Facebook where it said, “Believe me you are going to end this month happier, richer, and healthier than before. Your amen makes it happen.” This is not how God works. It’s not your amen that makes it happen. It is believing on God and diligently applying his Word to EVERY area of your life.
God supplies what we need. And there are many times when our seeming lack of resources is so that God can prove to us that he is more than enough. Sometimes God waits till the last moment to come through so that there is no doubt that he made it happen.
We are prideful people and we start to take the credit rather than give God the credit. Our “lack” will keep us humble and always looking to him. Keep following him! You may never be rich with worldly wealth, but God will provide everything you need. Think about how God provided in the Bible:
- When the Israelites where hungry in the desert, God rained down manna.
- When the crowd had nothing to eat, Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish.
- When the wine ran out at the wedding, Jesus changed the water into wine.
- When an overwhelming army besieged Jerusalem, God won the battle.
A R Leftwich says
Amen, Amen, Amen!
We serve a GOD who is more than enough.