Why I Believe in Abundance
Some say that we live in a world of abundance, and they are not wrong.
Abundance thinking often vibrates on the frequency of wishful thinking. The problem is that most of those who speak of "abundance" rarely give definition to what they mean. They might as well say that we live in a world of flying unicorns.
And yet, there is a note of truth ringing in the idea that we live in a world of abundance. This note has resonated deeply in me, making it hard to throw abundance thinking in the category of fantasy.
The reality of abundance is all around us. We often miss the wonder of abundance because it's dressed in the mundane rhythms God built into the world. If we open our eyes, we'll see that abundance isn't fantasy; it's science. And if we open our spiritual eyes, we'll see that abundance itself is not some mystical force; it's an outpouring of the generous heart of God. I want to thank my pastor T.J. Tims for pointing this out to me.
If you're feeling fuzzy about what I'm saying and find yourself reading with one eyebrow raised, give me a chance to add some definition. Let's make this concrete, shall we?
Actually, You Do Not Reap What You Sow
Have you ever heard the phrase, "you reap what you sow?" The roots of that saying are found in the Bible.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. - Galatians 6:7
The phrase, "you reap what you sow," is true in one sense but not another.
How It's True
The truth that Galatians 6:7 reveals is that you will always reap the type of thing you sow. If you sow an apple seed, you will get apple trees. Apple seeds will never produce avocado trees.
But this verse isn't about produce; it's about our lives holistically: physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Making choices is like planting seeds. In time, those seeds will bear fruit. The fruit of our lives is determined by the type of seed (choices) we plant.
How It's Not True
The phrase is not true in that we will not reap to the same degree that we sow. Sowing and reaping is rarely a one-to-one transaction. We will likely reap abundantly more than we sow.
This truth makes the warning in Galatians 6:7 even more serious. Little seeds produce an abundance of fruit — all the more reason to be careful what you are sowing.
Where abundance thinking gets it right is that God has built reaping more than you sow it into the fabric of our world. If you plant one tiny seed in the ground and faithfully tend to it, it will eventually grow into something that is a thousand multiples of your original investment. It's a wonder, really. One we take for granted. In His great generosity, God has made it so that our efforts (when all is going as it should) result in compounding gains.
But the abundant generosity of God doesn't end there.
The Wonder of Habits
Another wonder is our brain's ability to form habits. God is the one who gave us the gift of habit.
Habits are the ability to make choices on a subconscious, automatic level. Justin Early in "Habits of the Household" helped me see that habits are like ruts or tracks the wheels of our lives run on.
When we are unaware of our habits, they are likely leading us down an unwanted path. As Justin says, "habits aren't neutral." Our habits are leading us somewhere; they are shaping us.
The question isn't if we have habits, but what are our habits, and are they serving us?
We all have habits. Our habits are the rhythms of our lives. Our habitual choices make up our sense of "normal."
If our choices are like seeds that will reap a harvest, then it's wise for us to consider the choices we make on a habitual level. The danger of habits is that they are often the seeds we plant without being fully aware. The power of habits is that they allow us to dig new ruts and new tracks that make it easier to consistently plant the kind of seeds we would like to sow.
My View Of Abundance In A Sentence
God gives us abundantly more than we contribute, and He has equipped us with a tool (habits) that makes it easier to sow.
The Problems We Face
When it comes to tapping into God's generous abundance, I can think of two problems we face. One problem with habits and the other with sowing.
Our Problem With Habits
It's incredibly hard to get out of a rut. And it's equally challenging to dig new tracks.
New roads will make it infinitely easier to get to our desired destination. But the construction of those roads is a real pain.
Our habits can make our lives easier, but they must get harder first. We have to wake up to our current habits and make a plan for where to start digging a new path. We have to consciously reject the old ruts and set our minds to the task of committing to forming new ones until they become a part of who we are.
Just a quick side note to say, this way of thinking is an outright rejection of the idea that we are what we come by naturally. It's also a rejection of the idea that we are limited by the current "normal" in our lives. That's not to say I ascribe to the wishful thinking of "believe it and achieve it." We are limited creatures. We simply can't do whatever we like. But it is often within our power to move beyond our current "normal."
There are many abundantly generous things we all simply receive from God. The rain, the sun, and the breath in our lungs, to name a few. But God isn't just generous in His gifts; He is often also generous in His means. We receive the gift of habits (and reaping, for that matter) through the means of effort on our part. What I'm saying is that the effort required of us is also God being generous to us. He cares to give to us, but He also cares about who we are and who we are becoming. Our effort dignifies us. It reminds us to take our lives seriously. It reminds us that our lives and choices matter and have consequence. Have you noticed how incredibly satisfying and life-giving it is to accomplish something challenging? Receiving a Christmas gift is a joy, but so is winning a race.
To be as clear as possible, this post is not about salvation. The gift of God's grace through Christ requires no effort on our part. But God is far too generous to give us a life that requires no effort.
I encourage you (and myself!) to embrace the generous challenge of taking up the gift of habit. Do the hard work digging new ruts. In time, those new habits will make it easier to get where you want to go. But even the hard work it takes to develop the habits will be rewarding.
Our Problem With Sowing
Our problem with sowing and reaping is the need to wait. Nothing substantial grows overnight. The things that shoot up quickly are flimsy and often unwanted, like grass or weeds. While it is amazing that one tiny seed can produce so much fruit, the truth is that fruit-bearing takes time and patience.
Too often, we convince ourselves that massive success requires massive action. - James Clear
Diligent waiting is our best strategy. We want big moves and secret formulas for faster growth. The thing is, there are tips and tricks to cultivating a harvest. It's worth learning which soils work best, how much sunlight and water are required, and how to prune to secure the most abundant harvest. But even with this wise cultivating, our best play is still diligent waiting. Yes, diligently and faithfully attend to the things you want to grow. But be leery of any trick that plays to your impatience. It's going to take time to reap a harvest.
Sowing seeds and faithfully cultivating do not require large amounts of energy. If you can be patient enough to put in little bits of consistent effort, in time, you're likely to tap into the abundant generosity of reaping a harvest.
Protects And Empowers
I don't believe in unicorns, and I don't believe that "the universe" is ready to give us everything we want. But I do believe that God is abundantly generous. He can't help it; it's just who He is.
This view of God energizes me to dream, to live with purpose, and to move forward in life. It encourages me to plant seeds and wonder what fruit might come from them. It encourages me to be diligent and reject drifting through my life.
This view of God's generosity also protects me from entitlement and disillusionment. Abundant generosity is not karma. Putting in a little effort doesn't mean I'm owed abundance.
But God's generosity does empower me. Even when life isn't going my way, I can still sow new seeds. With patience and an eye towards the generosity of my Maker, it's likely that something will grow.
If I weren't at the end of this post, I would marvel more at how this view of God is what empowered the disciples to sow seeds of the gospel, love, and truth even in prison. I would marvel at how this view of God has encouraged martyrs throughout history to sow the seed of their very lives. You can go read for yourself the abundantly generous harvest produced from their efforts.
What About Us?
How does this view of God encourage you to sow seeds and cultivate the gift of habits?
For me, I'm encouraged to press into building habits around discipling my kids, believing that my small efforts have a chance of reaping a big harvest in their lives. I'm encouraged to press into the habit of creating (writing and songwriting) consistently and faithfully, believing that the seeds of my effort have the potential to reap a harvest of encouraging and inspiring others while providing for my family. I'm encouraged to press into the habit of physical exercise, believing that consistent bits of effort is my best bet for achieving the harvest of feeling fit, healthy, and capable.
