By Ron Harmon Presiding Bishop
…the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low; for the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare…
(adapted from Witness the Word sermon)
How many times a week do we hear the phrase “not enough”?
Not enough time
Not enough money
Not enough leaders
Not enough energy
Not enough hope
Surrounded by these messages, you may even conclude you are not enough. This is perhaps the most tragic impact of these messages—we begin to doubt ourselves.
Where did this idea of scarcity, the feeling that there is “not enough” begin? It’s difficult to locate the origin in point of time. Some suggest it began during the Industrial Revolution, when consumption shifted from meeting needs to satisfying desires, signaling status, and easing anxieties.
In 1932, British economist Lionel Robbins fundamentally redefined the field of economics. He said economics is simply “the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means.” This definition radically shifted the focus of economics away from community wellbeing. It changed the story we tell ourselves by suggesting that because resources are scarce, society must pursue endless, hyper-competitive market growth and hoarding to survive. This story is especially prevalent in cultures with highly developed economies and high levels of consumption.
In other words, it advocated the idea that there is not enough so our efforts must be competitive instead of collaborative to survive. Biblical scholar Walter Brueggeman analyzed this tension, suggesting the entire biblical narrative is about the conflict of two competing economic systems. To say this even more clearly, the Bible is about the struggle of scarcity vs. abundance and how this plays out in an orthodoxy that either excludes certain people and places limits on God’s generous love or is inclusive and shares freely that love in community.
In scripture, scarcity does not start with an actual shortage of resources. Rather it grows out of fear and desire to control what we already have in abundance. In Genesis, Pharoah is obsessed with the fear that there will never be enough. Driven by this fear, he introduces forced labor, centralized food storage, and a system of exploitation to hoard Egypt’s wealth. What begins as abundance erodes into insecurity and greed fueled by the belief that the universe or God is stingy, hostile, and unreliable.
(continued in tomorrow’s Daily Bread)
Prayer Phrase
“I am about to do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18).
Embrace Abundance
Take a slow breath and open your hands. Consider one thing you have received—love, grace, time, resources, or opportunity. Now ask, “What has been given to me that I can share with someone else?” Hold that thought for a moment. As you breathe in, say, “I receive with gratitude.” As you breathe out, “I give faithfully with generosity.” Pray, “May I trust there is enough when I choose to share what I have for the welfare of all.”
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.