Famine or Abundance?

Here's a bit of good perspective from Steve Sellers, the CCC Vice President of the Americas:

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Dear Staff, I hope you are doing well and experiencing God’s grace. Christy and I pray for you, that God will show He is faithful, wise, good and trustworthy as you deal with the details of your life. Last week I was spending time in Genesis when I came across the story of Lot and Abraham in chapter 13. The passage describes how their families, who had been traveling together, reached a place where the available resources couldn’t support both of their herds. While their herdsmen were arguing with each other over turf, Abraham approached Lot and said. “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left”. Lot headed east and Abraham headed in another direction toward Canaan. I was struck by Abraham’s view of God. While the herdsmen were fighting over what they saw as limited resources, Abraham was trusting in the God of unlimited resources. He didn’t see just the “well-watered” and visible provision. Rather he saw the “whole land before” him and the God who would provide far beyond what could currently be seen. Because he had a view of God’s willingness and ability to provide beyond the currently seen resources he was freed to be generous and live in unity as “brothers” with Lot. This was a timely passage for me as I’ve been processing how to be a steward of the resources that God has entrusted to me, especially in N. America. While there is always a part of me that is tempted to hoard, limit or control access to those resources, God was reminding me that they are all His and that He has far more to give than can currently be seen. He was encouraging me to undergird the stewardship of my ministry with faith. Part of that is faith in his ability to provide. But beyond that it’s faith that, in everything, He is far larger than what I currently can conceive. More loving, more zealous, more creative, more willing to be the God described in Acts 17 “who works for those who wait for him”. I realize that I may only grasp a fraction of his grandeur. But that’s enough for me to trust Him beyond what I see and to let Him change my behavior accordingly. In light of this, here are some of the questions I’m asking myself: Am I operating with an abundance mentality? Is my attitude one of hoarding, worrying and protecting or is it one of believing God and trusting his abundant provision? In the midst of being a steward of what God has entrusted to me, am I giving up my rights? Am I looking for ways to help other ministries? Am I a man of peace who seeks to live in unity with the Body? How should my view of a Big God affect my actions? Why do I tell you this? Primarily because I’m personally encouraged whenever God meets me in the midst of what I’m grappling with, exposes my motives, corrects my thinking and gives his insight. Hebrews 4:12 says “the word of God is living and active. …it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. Personally, it’s encouraging to know that God cares enough to inject Himself into the details of my life and to redirect my thinking. What wonderful proof that he’s interested and cares. And since I know that He is interested and that He does care I can live the life in front of me with surety and expectation.

Steve Sellers