A poverty mentality is a mindset. It not only includes finances – but your attitude. Someone with a poverty mentality isn’t just someone who is poor – its someone who will stay poor. I heard a story about a single woman who lived her entire life in an efficiency apartment in the slums of a large city. After she died, the landlord remodeled her apartment and in doing so he removed the wall paneling. It was then that they realized the woman had made holes at the top of her walls and had put money down inside her walls. When they counted it all up it totaled more than $1 Million. This woman had plenty of money, but she wasted it and stayed poor her entire life because of her poverty mentality. Her poverty mentality caused her to waste her life, most likely treating human relationships much like she did her money. Scared to live; scared to move; scared to effect the world. People with a poverty mentality stay “down in the dumps” in their finances and life in general because they do not strive for anything more.
We need to be content with where we are and what God has given us, but we should never be satisfied.
I am content with my car. But I am not satisfied — I am saving money so that in a few years I can purchase a nicer replacement.
I am content with my education. But I am not satisfied — I will soon be pursuing my Master’s degree.
I am content with my church. But I am not satisfied — I want my church to be more passionate than yesterday.
I am content with my house. But I am not satisfied — I am taking care of my house and fixing it up so that when the time comes, I could sell it for more.
I am content with my job. But I am not satisfied — I want to be even more “on the ball” tomorrow and give far beyond 100%.
I am content having a relationship with God. But I am not satisfied — I want to be closer to God tomorrow than I am right now.
Someone with a poverty mentality is “satisfied” with nearly everything, but they are not content with anything. People with a poverty mentality never strive for more of anything. Think about an area in your life where you have developed a negative poverty mentality.
I will always be content, but I will never be satisfied!
You know, I’ve recently re-prioritized my whole life. And this blog highlights one of the primary areas where I have made, and continue to make changes.
I think there are some areas where content and satisfied are the same thing. Everyone has different priorities and gifts. For me, getting completely out of debt and having the provisions I need for each day is both financial contentment and satisfaction. It’s not a poverty mentality at all. I realize that others may not feel that way. It’s a personal decision. I never intend to live in poverty, but I don’t need opulence, either.
But, in my relationship with God I will never be satisfied. I believe C.S. Lewis calls it “further in and further up.” No matter how deep I go, there is always more of God to discover! Am I content now? Well, I’m learning. But, I’m certainly not satisfied!
Thanks for the reminder, Adam. This is an area in which I have been making changes in my life, and your post is encouraging!
Perhaps if you remained content in your finances, but not satisfied — you could continue to expand your expendable income . . . not for selfish opulence or abundance – but to increase your ability to give. Perhaps you can be content with a tithe – but not satisfied with your offerings. ??
I guess finances is a poor description. A better word might be provisions.
As long as I have what I need to be alive, what more is there? I should also clarify that when I say “be alive” I mean live my life to the fullest extent of what God intended. There is so much more to life than any one part of it, with the exception of God and my relationship with Him. All of the parts of life happen “in and through” God. I certainly want to be able to increase my ability to give, but I can give in more ways than simply financially. And, honestly, I would rather see my ability to roll up my sleeves and get involved increase, rather than my ability to throw money at a problem increase. I really think that we put a lot of emphasis on tithes and offerings consisting of finances, but I think it extends so far beyond that. Don’t get me wrong, finances are definitely a part of tithes and offerings, but I don’t think it stops there. I don’t know for sure that it even begins there. I guess I see it as though the tithe and offering extends to every single part of my entire life, and if any area, whether it be finances, time, relationships, work, or whatever, is out of whack, then I am guilty of being disobedient to God in my tithes and offerings.
Financial increase is really almost completely on the bottom of the totem pole for me. I think it is because I have a tendency to put money before God, so when I become unsatisfied in the area of money, I start to remove God from the throne He deserves. But, that’s a personal consideration on my part.
Just read this post today. Such a good and challenging point, Adam. Kudos.
PS-Tell my family I said hello!
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