Abundance and Attachments

When I live my life out of an abundance mindset, it is easy to be kind and generous. When I act out of a scarcity mindset, I will always feel that I do not have enough to give even when I have more than what I need. Thus, I have encountered the most generous people I have met among those who do not even have sufficiency of material possessions. Because of their abundance mentality, even the only shirt they have on is not too much to give to one who is naked, nor the last bite they are about to eat too little to share with one who is hungry. I have also met the most selfish people among those whose material wealth and possessions are more than enough to last them a lifetime. They find it hard to part with what they have, often justifying their action by saying they have worked for it or the other person does not deserve to receive anything from them.

Christ worked from an abundance mindset. He taught us how nature is so generously abundant that birds of the air need not toil. He changed plain water into wine when wine ran out at the wedding in Cana. He multiplied a few loaves in order to feed the thousands who came to hear Him. And even when He was stripped of everything he had, including his dignity and humanity, He still willingly gave up the one life that He had.

Abundance begets kindness and generosity. Attachment begets selfishness and acquisitiveness. And both are choices that I can choose to make and live by.

“Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.”

And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear.
The measure you give will be the measure you get,
and still more will be given you.
For to those who have, more will be given;
and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’
Mark 4:21-25