“. . . They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left lover, seven baskets full.” – Mark 8:7-8
Too often, the church (and this is all churches) practices what I’ve heard described as the abundance of scarcity. Yes, you read that right: Not a scarcity of abundance, but the opposite. Where the disciples saw a scarcity, Jesus saw an abundance. Where the disciples saw a crowd who should be sent away because there was not enough to feed them, Jesus saw God’s provision.
What is an abundance of scarcity? In describing it, usually these three words preface the scarcity: We – don’t – have. The scarcity may be in money (“We don’t have enough money”) or time (“We don’t have enough time”) or resources (“We don’t have enough resources”) or people (“We don’t have enough people”) and on and on. Those who use this kind of language are what may be called, “glass half empty” people. For them, the lack of whatever is a valid reason for not doing. Not so with those who are “glass half full” people.
This abundance of scarcity, how does it affect the church? In short, nothing begins until enough of whatever is deemed the scarcity is in hand. The truth is, this is the mark of a risk-averse church, one that trusts more in themselves than they do in God. When this takes place, dreams become smaller and ideas and plans are scaled back. This says, too, that regardless of what we say, we don’t trust that God will fulfill God’s promises. Why is that so? Well, because our behavior doesn’t show it.
Oh, how like the disciples we are! Just like them, we see an ability to do what God has called us to do. We make up excuses. We come up with reasons why we can’t rather than being obedient to and trusting in God. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told by the angel that she was pregnant, she said, “How can this be . . .?” The angel’s response to her should be one that we internalize and refer to often: “For nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:34b, 37).
So, here at Hunt UMC, which are we, glass-half-empty people, or glass-half-full people? Do we practice an abundance of scarcity, reminding ourselves and others that we never have enough? Are we risk-averse, unwilling to step out in faith, fearing failure? Do we trust God? The last question is the most important, and our answer should be reflected in how we live, not being consumed by a lack of, but trusting that God will provide. And, one final question, what if the time, talents, resources, money, people, etc., we now have, is all that God will give us? How we respond to this is how we change scarcity to abundance. Just like the five loaves and two fish. See you on this challenging journey!
Grace and peace,
Mike
November 15, 2015