I just returned from a mission trip to the village of La Pila in Guatemala. If you’ve ever heard the saying “dirt poor,” it’s most likely referring to this village. To say the people there are extremely poor is an understatement.
At first, I thought I was going there to minister to them. But the exact opposite happened. They ministered to me.
Let me help put their situation in perspective.
Most children will never make it past the sixth grade before going to work in the fields, where they will make less than three dollars per day. At the same time, our average drink at Starbucks is three dollars and sixty-five cents. That’s for just one drink.
We stress about what we will wear out with friends and change our clothes every day without fail, and sometimes multiple times a day. While they wear the same clothes day in and day out.
I packed more clothes in my carry-on than they will own for years. I also packed boots and flip-flops and thought I was downsizing what I needed. At the same time, some of them walked around without any shoes.
Their kindness and simple life moved me. I was convicted for the times in my life when I was discontent when I have so much. It was life changing.
In life, you can have one of two mindsets. You can have a scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset. The two are polar opposites.
People with a scarcity mindset always think they never have enough. Their craving for more constantly drives them. And they firmly believe the more they get, the more they will find happiness and contentment. But they have no peace.
People with the abundance mindset live with an attitude and spirit of contentment. While they might not have much, they understand that what they have is enough and from the Lord. And they are at peace knowing God will provide for their every need.
Because of their contentment and trust in the Lord for their provision, they have peace.
Which mindset do you have? I have often fallen into the trap of the scarcity mindset. I’ve often forgotten that “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
When were you last content with what God has given you? Maybe that should be today.
“After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:7-9)
Lord, help us be content with your provision. And let us not turn aside from those less fortunate than ourselves.
For we know “when someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more, will be required.” (Luke 12:48)
Click here to LISTEN to our latest message: iTunes – Google – Spotify
Well said. A reminder to be thankful for everything we have. We in America are rich in contrast to much of the world. We need to thank God for all we possess.
Thank you, Danny! So true!