More Than Enough: The Scarcity Mindset

November 24th, 2024/Casey Middle School

Over the last four weeks we have talked about our theme for 2025, which is more than enough. We started off with our annual recap and we looked back on how faithful God has been in this past year.

We also had a Sunday where we focused on caring for the vulnerable and orphans around the world. And then last Sunday, Pastor Ron talked about the giving journey. The vision behind the series is that we have More Than Enough love, more than enough resources to give and to be a blessing to others.

Today we are going to talk about scarcity. What if scarcity is not a problem with your wallet but with your mind. Scarcity comes in very sneaky, and it affects more areas of our life than we might realize. We are going to talk some about money, but the reality is scarcity affects every area of our lives.

Growing up, my mom used to use a term called “poor mouthing” whenever she wanted to correct us from a scarcity mindset. We didn’t have a lot growing up, and we experienced many many hardships. But she wanted to raise us with a mindset of provision and supply, not lack.

Poor mouthing, or a scarcity mindset, makes us ungrateful, makes us overlook the blessings that you do have, it incites sympathy towards others, it puts a cap on vision for our future, it causes us not to trust in God, and it causes us to hoard what we do have. Scarcity at its core is fear based, not faith based.

Story: Have you ever felt like you were just scraping by? Like there’s not enough time, not enough money, not enough energy? You work hard, but it’s never enough. Maybe you’re thinking, I’d give more if I had more. Or, I’ll trust God when I’m in a better place. But what if I told you that your problem isn’t what’s in your wallet—it’s what’s in your mind?

Paul talks about this reality in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. He shares the story of the Macedonian churches, who were in severe poverty, yet gave with overflowing joy. Why? Because they didn’t have a bag mindset that says, 'We don’t have enough.' They had a barn mindset that trusts in the God of abundance.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, 4 they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.

Pray:

Title: The Scarcity Mindset

Big Idea:

When you shift your mindset to more than enough, you stop merely surviving and start living in the abundance of the grace of God.

Main Points:

1. The Bag Mindset: “Not Enough”

   1. 'You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.' - Haggai 1:6
   2. We don’t have a money problem; we have a mindset problem.
   3. Explanation: In Haggai, the bag with holes is what happened when God’s people put their own houses ahead of His. Here’s how I’d apply that: the bag mindset says, I’ll give more when I have more, but this mindset keeps us trapped in scarcity.
   4. Illustration: Imagine carrying a bag with a hole in it. No matter how much you put in, it leaks out. This is what happens when we trust in our own supply instead of God’s.
   5. Scarcity Mindset: Old Testament Examples
      1. Moses: "I can’t speak," but God said, "I’ll give you the words" (Exodus 4:10-12)
      2. Gideon: "I’m the least in my family," but God used him to defeat an army with only 300 men (Judges 6-7).
      3. Abraham and Sarah: "We’re too old to have children," but God gave them Isaac and made them the parents of nations (Genesis 18:10-14).
      4. The Israelites in the Wilderness: "We don’t have food or water," but God sent manna from heaven and water from a rock (Exodus 16:2-4; Exodus 17:5-6).
      5. Jeremiah: "I’m too young to speak for You," but God assured him, "I will put My words in your mouth" (Jeremiah 1:6-9).
   6. Scarcity Mindset: New Testament Examples
      1. The Boy with the Lunch: "It’s not enough," but God multiplied it to feed thousands (John 6:1-14).
      2. Peter Fishing: "We’ve fished all night and caught nothing," but Jesus said, "Cast your nets again," and they caught an abundance of fish (Luke 5:5-7).
      3. The Wedding at Cana: "We’ve run out of wine," but Jesus turned water into wine, providing more than enough (John 2:3-10).
      4. Mary and Martha Mourning Lazarus: "If You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died," but Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:21-44).
      5. Paul and Silas in Prison: They were chained and locked up, yet they prayed and sang hymns, and God sent an earthquake to free them and brought salvation to the jailer’s household (Acts 16:25-34).
   7. These stories reflect God’s people faced with a scarcity mindset opportunity—whether in ability, resources, or faith—and God demonstrated time and time again His provision, power, and abundance to meet their needs.
   8. Application: Where are you saying, 'I don’t have enough'? Maybe it’s time to trust God with your little, and believe God for a miracle.

2. The Barn Mindset: More Than Enough

   1. “8 The Lord will grant you a blessing on your barns and on everything you do; he will bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 28:8
      1. “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” - Proverbs 3:9-10
      2. “10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” - Malachi 3:10

   2. Explanation: The barn mindset says, God owns it all, so I’ll trust Him with my first and my best.

      1. Tithing (giving to the “storehouse”) breaks the grip of a scarcity mindset and teaches us to trust God’s supply.

      2. The Cycles We Choose:

         1. God supplies, we consume, we lack, and we fear.
         2. God supplies, we give, God multiplies, and our faith grows.
            3. Some of us have the barn blessings, but the bag mindset. Giving data often shows that as income rises, the share given away falls.

      3. This may be one reason church planters in the most affluent cities across the US can struggle more financially than church planters in more rural and suburban towns.

      4. But consider a generous church in an affluent city, what an incredible impact even a small church could have for the advancement of the Kingdom.

3. Overflow & Excel in Every Good Work

   1. “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CEV)

      1. “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB)
      2. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – The Macedonians gave beyond their ability because of grace.

      3. John 3:16 – God loved, so He gave.

         2. Generosity is not about what you have—it’s about who you trust.
         3. So, here’s the shift: You can live with a bag mindset, always fearing you don’t have enough and living stuck in the cycle of lack, or you can embrace the barn mindset, trusting that God is your provider and that He wants to build your faith.
         4. Bag (Scarcity) Mindset vs. Barn (Overflow) Mindset

      4. Time:

         1. Scarcity Mindset: "I don’t have enough time to spend with my family or serve at church—I’m too busy with work and responsibilities."

         2. Overflow Mindset: "When I prioritize God and others, He will multiply my time and help me accomplish everything I need to do." 2. Career:

         3. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t apply for that promotion or start my own business because I’m not smart or qualified enough."

         4. Overflow Mindset: "God equips the called, and He will give me the wisdom and skills I need to succeed in His plan for my life." 3. Parenting:

         5. Scarcity Mindset: "I’m not a good enough parent to raise godly children. Other parents seem to have it all together, and I don’t."

         6. Overflow Mindset: "God chose me to be the parent of my children, and He will give me the grace and wisdom to guide them in His ways."
            4. Relationships:

         7. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t trust people or invest in friendships because I’ve been hurt before, and I don’t have enough emotional energy to try again."

         8. Overflow Mindset: "God has given me His love to share, and I trust Him to heal my past hurts and bring healthy, life-giving relationships into my life." 5. Gifts and Talents:

         9. Scarcity Mindset: "I don’t have the skills or talents to make a difference for God. My contribution is too small to matter."

         10. Overflow Mindset: "God uses the little I have to accomplish great things for His Kingdom. He will multiply my efforts for His glory." 6. Health and Fitness:

         11. Scarcity Mindset: "I don’t have the energy or strength to start exercising or eating healthier—it’s too overwhelming."

         12. Overflow Mindset: "God gives me the strength to make small changes, and I trust Him to help me steward my body for His glory.”
             5. Finances:

      5. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t tithe or give to others because I barely have enough to pay my own bills."

      6. Overflow Mindset: "I would rather live on 90% with God’s hand on it than hold onto 100% without Him. I trust Him to supply my every need as I give faithfully."

      7. Ministry or Serving:

         1. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t lead a Crew or volunteer because I don’t know enough about the Bible or how to help people."

         2. Overflow Mindset: "God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. I trust Him to work through me as I serve.” 4. Dreams and Goals:

         3. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t pursue my dreams because I don’t have the money, connections, or confidence to make it happen."

         4. Overflow Mindset: "God placed these dreams in my heart for a reason, and He will provide the resources and opportunities I need to fulfill them." 5. Spiritual Growth:

         5. Scarcity Mindset: "I can’t grow closer to God because I’m too flawed, too busy, or too far gone for Him to use me."

         6. Overflow Mindset: "God’s grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I trust Him to draw me closer as I seek Him."
            6. “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB)
            7. The overflow mindset is about trusting God to multiply what we give, guide us where we go, and provide for every need.

      8. It’s about aligning our faith with His abundance, stepping out in obedience, and believing that He is always more than enough.

      9. Enough is not your ceiling—it’s your floor.

Walking Points:

1. Unbeliever: God’s grace overflows. You don’t have to earn it—it’s already been poured out for you.
2. Lukewarm believer: Break the cycle of scarcity in your life and for the generation after you.
3. Spirit filled believer: Use your overflow to bless others and build the Kingdom.

If you’re ready to stop living in 'not enough' and step into 'more than enough,' it starts with surrendering your life to Jesus. He is the ultimate overflow. Let’s pray together.

The most generous gift in the world is the Gospel.

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

Let’s step into 2025 with bold faith, generous hearts, and the confidence that our God is a more than enough God. Remember: It’s more blessed to give than to receive because when you give, you reflect the heart of God. Let’s trust Him, give generously, and watch Him multiply it for His Kingdom!