The kingdom of God is not a zero sum game. Yet I tell myself, “If I give, I will have less. I need to keep what I have and not lose it.” When life is defined by that kind of math, I make decisions out of a fear. I fear that I will lose what I have in hand and I will never have it again. Sounds like the man in the parable of the Talents in Matt 25.
Living this way, factors God out of the equation. Only what I know. Only what I understand. Only what I can see and touch. These are the only things that are “real”. This is scarcity thinking or having a poverty mindset. It is a mindset that leads to failure in life. Solomon said in Proverbs 3- Lean not on your own understanding. Paul said in Romans 12 do not conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Scriptures and scarcity thinking are at odds. Gods says Give! Step in the unknown, the unseen,& the unproven. And it will be given to me (by God). Refresh others (out of confidence I will be taken care of) and I will be refreshed (by God, who sees what is done in secret and rewards -Matt.6). Faith is doing our part of the equation James 2.
In the Kingdom of God, everyone wins! The giver & the receiver win because God provides for them both. God’s kingdom is one of abundance where there is more than enough & everybody wins!
