Give Up The Lack Mindset

For me, all my negative thoughts that I have about, 'How did you miss that pitch? Why did you miss that pitch? You shouldn't have missed that pitch.' I just kind of sit there and kind of crush it up, and once I'm done doing that... I just kind of toss it aside.—Aaron Judge

Money Matters

Money matters, but not so much the way you might think. Yes, it’s true, that in most cultures around the world, people are paid for their work with some form of currency. It’s what we use to buy food, clothing, and shelter. We exchange it for getting our needs met

But money matters in a much different – and more insidious – way, too. It can trip a guy up. It can become an all-consuming object of desire and greed that leads to corruption and ruin. I am not overstating the case, here! God says it this way:

 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”—1 Timothy 6:10

No wonder the Bible mentions money so often — by one count there are more than 2,300 verses about money, wealth, and possessions!

The FOMO Factor

It’s not that money in and of itself is bad. It’s a tool. It’s a resource that God wants us to manage well. Spent wisely, money can aid the poor, feed the hungry, and go a long way toward helping spread the good news of the gospel and building God’s kingdom. The thing that gets us in trouble, though, is when we start believing that we don’t have enough of it. I call it “The Lack Mindset.” Admit it. How often do you find yourself thinking, “If only I had a little more cash…”?

And our culture doesn’t help matters any. We are bombarded day in and day out with appeals from all types of media trying to convince us that we need nicer cars, bigger houses, better clothes, and more luxurious vacations. The result? Wanting. Craving. FOMO, or fear of missing out, perhaps. The temptations can be overwhelming.

The NOMO Fear Factor

So let’s be sure right off the bat that we adopt the right attitude about money and things and material possessions. Here are three perspectives that will keep us on the right track:

One | Trust in God, not your stuff.

Easier said than done, I know, but think about it. We’re always looking for “the sure thing,” right? The only thing that’s “sure” about your stuff, however, is that it’s temporary. It’s subject to age and decay. It can be taken away in an instant. God, on the other hand, is eternal. He is unchanging, ever loving and ever gracious. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding,” says Proverbs 3:5. We may not always understand His ways (how can we – He’s God and we’re not), but we know we can always, always trust Him.

Two | Accept that you have already been given everything.

Really, now, what more could we want? The keys to a new car or the keys to heaven – an eternity in paradise with God Himself? The truth is that in Christ we have hit the biggest jackpot of all. And money can’t buy it. Jesus bought it with His blood, and all we have to do is accept it. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3)

Three | Invest your time in real treasures that don't depreciate or demand more.

One of the great things about the tremendous wealth we have as co-heirs with Christ is that when we share it, spread it around, give it away, not one iota is subtracted from our inheritance. In fact, we end up adding to the treasure that God is safeguarding for us in heaven. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Where is your heart? True, we work hard to earn a living and pay the bills. But when we hit a low spot and we’re unsure how to fund our next meal, we are only reminded of how fleeting our wealth here on earth really is. Yes, money matters. Let’s just make sure that it matters for the Kingdom of God.