The Weight of Scarcity
“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31 NIV)
The weight of the backpack surprised me, tipping the scales at nearly thirty pounds. I wondered, How can a second-grade student carry this much weight? My shoulders ached in sympathy as I imagined the weight on his eight-year-old back. What made his daily burden so heavy?
His bag was full of books. Books of all kinds—a dinosaur encyclopedia, nearly an entire series of beginner-level chapter books, a world almanac, video game guidebooks, and delightful picture books. He enjoys reading, but this collection held more words than he could read in one week.
I had to ask, “Barrett, why do you carry around so many books?” He explained his plan to read them all-eventually.
He balked when I suggested he keep two and return the rest to the shelves in his classroom. “If I put them back, someone else may get them,” he said. He was afraid he would run out of books.
Barrett’s fear of scarcity gave him an unnecessary weight to carry to and from school every day. He was willing to bear the burden of all the books in order to prevent others from getting any book he might be interested in reading.
How does the fear of scarcity affect my behaviors or add to my burdens?
The scarcity of space affects my kindness. Weekday mornings, I sometimes jockey too aggressively for a favorable position in the carpool line.
The scarcity of resources affects my generosity. Feelings of financial insecurity may cause me to stockpile money instead of giving freely to those in need.
The scarcity of time affects my patience. My fuse can be short when the nightly bedtime routine takes too long, cutting into my kid-free time.
I wonder if the fear of scarcity made the older brother in Luke 15:11-32 bitter toward his father and brother? After squandering his inheritance, the youngest brother returns to the family estate. His father throws a party to celebrate his homecoming. The oldest son refuses to attend.
But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” (Luke 15:29-30 NIV)
Fear of scarcity runs fiercely through his complaint:
- The scarcity of his time (“all these years”)
- The scarcity of the father’s affection (“you never gave me a young goat . . . you kill the fattened calf for him”)
- The scarcity of resources (“squandered your property”)
His fear of scarcity costs him a celebration with his father and a reunion with his brother.
The wise father meets his son’s fear of scarcity with the assurance of his abundance. “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours'” (Luke 15:31 NIV). He reminds his eldest son that he has enough time, affection, and resources to give him anything and everything he could need.
As I consider my oldest-son tendencies, the Father’s promise of abundance is the most effective antidote for my fear of scarcity.
- God gives me twenty-four hours each day to use and enjoy (Prov 16:9).
- God has endless resources and shares them graciously (Phil 4:19, Heb. 13:5).
- God’s affection for his people is deep and never-ending (Ps 36).
When I begin to think it’s not enough, I can redirect my thoughts toward God is enough. The assurance that God is enough lightens my load. It helps me to be more gracious, generous, and patient with others. Which mindset will you choose today—scarcity or abundance?
Gracious and loving Father, remind us each day that you are enough. You share affection and resources out of your abundance. As we find security in your abundance, guide us to share your love and resources with others. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” (Ps. 36:5-9 NIV)
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18 NIV)
Reach for More
The theme of abundance versus scarcity shines through in one of Jesus’s other parables. Read Matthew 25:13-40, “The Parable of the Bags of Gold.” How does the servants’ understanding of the master’s abundance affect their investment choices? Consider how your view of abundance and scarcity affects the way you invest your own time and resources in others.
is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.
Photograph © Daiga Ellaby, used with permission
