When people talk about poverty, they are usually referring to not having enough money to cover life’s necessities. If someone is living a life of poverty, they are living with barely enough to simply exist. Or maybe not enough.
When I say we need to break the spirit of poverty, I’m not referring to a lack of money.
The spirit of poverty isn’t an amount, but an attitude, or a frame of mind. A frame of mind that is contrary to God’s way of thinking.
The spirit of poverty places the wrong emphasis on material things and bank accounts. And placing the wrong emphasis on those things makes one prone to worry, lying, stealing, and living beyond one’s means.
There’s a principle in God’s word that, if applied to our lives, will absolutely break the spirit of poverty.
No, it’s not a promise to be a millionaire. Instead it’s a promise from God that every need you have will be met, with some left over to bless those around you.
God’s plan for mankind has always been that they live above their income, but not beyond their means.
I’ll spell it out.
If money, our ability to make money (education, opportunity, social standing, size of family, etc.), or our material possessions are what we put our trust in, we are limited in how much we will make and what we’ll be able to do, or want to do, with our possessions.
If we have a lot, we may want to do a lot, but the amount we do is determined by a commodity that can rise or fall according to the strength of the economy.
Kind of a dangerous way to live, if you ask me.
However, if GOD is our source, and the spirit of poverty’s influence has been broken from our lives, the amount of income, opportunities, etc., is not the end of our potential.
If God is our source, our means, we shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 84). We shall find ourselves with whatever is needed to do and complete God’s will for our life, PLUS, help others along their path of obedience to God.
How can a person tell if they are bound by the spirit of poverty? How freely do you give to others, or to other causes? To what degree has worry overtaken your once joyful heart?
Why do you work? To get, hoard, play, and make things better for yourself and family (which isn’t totally wrong), or does it also include having something to bless others with?
Paul wrote: “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NASB)
If God is our source, we’re not afraid to give, to bless, or to put others first. Not so, if controlled by the spirit of poverty.
I’ve written a book wherein I talk about this in detail. It’s available in both eBook and paperback versions.
It’s called, “Breaking the Spirit of Poverty with the Spirit of Generosity.“ Please click the link below for more information on how you can get your own copy.
Breaking the Spirit of Poverty
God wants His life, and resources, flowing through you to others. As He told Abram, “I will bless you, and you’ll be a blessing”, so is His desire for you and I.
As we shake free from the poverty spirit, we’ll discover the freedom and resources to bless others, and a renewed passion for the Kingdom of God.
Check it out.
Jan Grace 