How do you respond when an opportunity to meet a need arises? I'm not talking about necessarily giving someone money - but those times when you could potentially step into a situation and be part of the solution.
Most people have been raised with either an Abundance mentality or a Scarcity mindset. Let me explain. Jesus has been ministering to a large crowd all day (Mark 6) - they are so enthralled that everybody has lost track of time and the hunger pangs kick in. The disciples mentality is immediately uncovered as they tell Jesus to 'send them away' (v36) to get food. Their Scarcity mentality DIVORCED them from being part of a supernatural solution to the hungry crowd, resorting to a man made solution. This is the devastating effects of this type of mentality. Instead of understanding and believing that God can provide a solution - we immediately separate ourselves from a divine opportunity to demonstrate God's power and love. Instead of saying to ourselves "God is more than enough" - we recite the mantra "I only have"!
Jesus, on the other hand, organizes everyone into groups of 100s and 50s and gets the 'little' there is - 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish - and 'looks to heaven', blessing the provision with faith in His heart to trust His Father's abundance!! He knew there was an immediate answer to the situation.
3 Simple Steps to Eradicate
- Recognize the signs of a Scarcity mentality - scantness, deficity, never having enough. Ask yourself how you respond when you are presented an opportunity to exercise faith.
- Repent and 'cut off' any generational ties to this mentality (Deut 28:45-48) asking the Lord to fill you with faith and fresh vision
- Test out your new mindset. Next opportunity to exercise an Abundance mentality - step in and trust God for His solution to the situation. Amen