Limited vs. Abundant

Years ago, some friends of mine adopted a little girl from China. On the first morning back home in the U.S., the mom put her new daughter in a high chair, then poured a handful of Cheerios on the tray. Immediately, the little girl scrambled to grab as many oat circles as she could and stuff them in her mouth as quickly as she could. Sadly, this behavior wasn't due to hunger. Back at the orphanage, this 18-month-old had learned she had to fight and grab for what she could before things (primarily food) were taken away.

In that heartbreaking moment, this toddler was acting as if she would never get another Cheerio in her life, not realizing my friend had an entire box full of them. Her frantic grab revealed a "limited mindset," which was robbing her of the joy an "abundance mindset" can bring.

Unfortunately, many Jesus-followers have a similar approach.

The Abundance of Jesus

Welcome to the last week of our 5-part What’s Your Mindset? blog series. Over the past five weeks, we’ve looked at moving from a fixed to a growth mindset, from pessimism to hope, from self-criticism to self-compassion, and from helplessness to empowerment. This week, we explore the shift from a limited mindset to an abundant one.

And to look at this mindset, I want to talk about bread.

There is a story in Mark 8 where Jesus is in a boat with his twelve disciples. Just before their boat ride, Jesus had fed 4,000 people with nothing but seven loaves of bread. (Keep in mind, this took place just a few weeks after Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish). Then after miraculously feeding so many people (again!), he had a conversation with some Jewish leaders who demanded a sign from him.

So as they bounced along the waves of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus blurted out...

“Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” (Mark 8:15a, ESV)

Immediately, the disciples think Jesus is talking about bread, for they had forgotten to grab some of the extra after the feeding of the 4,000, so they only had one loaf to share among the thirteen of them. "Way to go, Thomas! You were supposed to grab more loaves. Now, the Rabbi is hangry!" (By the way, I made that conversation up. We don't know exactly what they said, nor if Thomas was the culprit.)

Knowing this conversation was taking place, Jesus chimed in again...

"Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand?" (Mark 8:17a, ESV)

With those words, Jesus was correcting their limited mindset. The disciples were thinking, “We only have one loaf, and that won't be enough for all of us.” Yet what had they just witnessed? Jesus turning a few loaves into many pieces, so much so there were baskets of bread leftover!

A limited mindset can lead to hoarding (like my friend's adopted daughter) or fear & frustration (like the disciples). But when you realize you are loved by a God who can multiply bread and create stars out of nothing, you develop an abundance mindset that frees you to live generously, joyfully, and courageously with your words, time, and presence.

Abounding Grace

When teaching about generosity in his second letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians they can give generously of their FIST (Finances, Influence, Skills, & Time) because they already have enough in Christ:

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV, emphasis added)

So the next time you’re tempted to...

• skip an opportunity because you "don't have time,"
• or withhold encouragement for fear of looking foolish,
• or to keep all the "Cheerios" for yourself because you "don't have enough money..."

...ask yourself: Am I thinking with a limited mindset or an abundant one?

When you remember that Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35), can supply all your needs according to His riches (Philippians 4:19), you'll find the joy and peace of the abundance mindset. Because in Christ, you all-ready have more than enough!