The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
[Adapted from “Living God’s Economy: Easter, Abundance, and the Call to Economic Justice” by Carla Long, Mar/Apr 2026 Herald, pp. 10–13]
“God’s economy imagines and intends an abundant life” (Money and Faith, edited by Michael Schut, p. 19).
Among the most prevailing lies of the world is that scarcity is inevitable—that there never will be enough. Therefore, fear drives decisions. It leads to hoarding, exclusion, war, hurt, and pain. Many of us believe this lie of scarcity so deeply that we allow it to shape who we are. So much of our time and energy go into “keeping up with the Joneses” and protecting what we have that we have little left for the things that really matter.
The story of Easter is the ultimate disruption of scarcity. The Resurrection is the definitive “Yes!” to life, signaling that God’s creative abundance is not exhausted by death or poverty. God’s economy begins with the radical belief that there is enough when we live in right relationships with one another and recognize the Worth of All Persons. This is not a “prosperity gospel” that benefits the few, but a vision of abundance where life is restored. We see this at work in the story of Emmanuel Mumba in Ndola, Zambia, Africa. Raised in the Chipulukusu Congregation, Mumba faced the loss of both parents, leaving him responsible for raising his younger brothers under extreme difficulty.
In a world shaped by scarcity, Mumba’s story could have ended in terminal poverty. However, members and friends of the Chipulukusu Congregation chose to embrace God’s abundant imagination. They provided rent assistance and an emotional sanctuary. Through the Young Peace Makers Community School and partners like HealthEd Connect, what appeared to be the scarcity of Emmanuel’s orphaned status was met by the “abundance” of a community that believed in his future.
Today, Mumba serves as a head teacher at the school he attended and is a pastor of the Chipulukusu Congregation. His life testifies that abundance becomes real when a community chooses to see someone not as a burden, but as a beloved child of God.
Tomorrow’s Daily Bread story will explore how God’s economic household includes room for all creation.
Prayer Phrase
“See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
Weaving a Life
Hold, or imagine yourself holding, a piece of patterned cloth. Examine it carefully. Notice overlapping threads, mingling colors that form the design. Write a journal entry or meditate about the threads and patterns of your life. What design do you see? How does the life pattern you are weaving create justice and wholeness in God’s world? What new pattern is God calling you to weave?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.