Scarcity Based vs Abundance Based

Yep, time to continue on as we head into Spring Break here in the Bay Area. The tragedy of Oakland cannot be lost in the midst of the global crisis. The anxiety of people appears so high right now--as if we are experiencing a financial 9/11, especially in a place like California where unemployment is over 10% and the projected budget of 2010 will be 40+ billion in the red. Anxiety.

So, amidst this anxiety, can organizations, can institutions and their basic attitudes hold to an Abundance mentality? The "scarcity-based" organization will see people as generally greedy, selfish, and unwilling to invest or share. "Abundance-based" organizations will see people as eager to contribute, to make a difference, as willing to share and work together. Of course, in our environment now, this whole notion will be challenged.

As Christians, how do we see people, what does our text reveal? Does it only reveal darkness or is there light? The question of human nature gets partly at the heart of our message. What does Creation reveal? What does the Fall reveal? What does the message of Jesus reveal? How did he see people? Do we see people as he does?

Until next time...