VIDEO

AUDIO PODCAST

THE TRAGEDY OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY IN THE MIDST OF ABUNDANCE

The parable of the older son (Luke 15:11–32) unveils a profound truth about the human condition: despite having full access to his father’s abundance, his heart was imprisoned by a mindset of scarcity. Rather than living in the freedom and joy of his inheritance, he reduced his relationship with his father to a cold transaction:

“I have served you faithfully, yet you haven’t rewarded me.”

At that precise moment, the feast was already in full swing, the music playing, the laughter echoing, and the joy of the father’s love overflowing. All the older son had to do was enter, to share in the celebration of his brother’s return and the restoration of what was lost. But instead, he withdrew into the shadows of his self-imposed exile, his pride and bitterness keeping him distant from the love and grace already extended to him. In his refusal to join, he missed the very thing he sought—reconciliation with the Father and the joy of being fully embraced by the love that had always been his.

So, it’s not about waiting to enter the kingdom—we’re already in it. But maybe we’re not fully living in it, like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Caught up in what we think we’ve earned, waiting for a reward, we miss the celebration happening right in front of us. The party has already started, and we’ve been invited. The issue isn’t the Father’s generosity—it’s our failure to recognize and embrace it.

His statement of lack betrays not only a lack of gratitude but also a failure to grasp the intimacy and generosity of the father’s love. He didn’t see himself as a beloved son, already possessing all his father’s wealth, but as a mere labourer expecting wages.

This same tragedy played out in the life of David. Though he was crowned king, richly blessed with authority, honour, and the favour of God, he too lost sight of the fullness of God’s provision. When he turned his gaze outward, seeking fulfilment in what was forbidden, he revealed a truth about the human heart: it is prone to forget the treasure it already holds. His failure wasn’t born from lack but from a misplaced longing—a restless hunger that clouded his vision.

This pattern isn’t confined to biblical figures. It echoes through the lives of countless believers today. Many Christians, though spiritually seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), live as if they are beggars at the gates. Surrounded by the lavish banquet of God’s grace, they scavenge for crumbs, endlessly striving, grumbling, and comparing.

“Why does God bless them and not me?”
“Why hasn’t He answered my prayers?”
“Why is their portion greater than mine?”

Such questions reveal a spiritual blindness that prevents us from recognizing the magnitude of what we already possess in Christ. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1:3 that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Yet, like the older son and like David, we often fail to live in the awareness of that truth.

This isn’t merely a matter of theology—it’s a tragedy of perspective. While God’s hands are extended, offering the fullness of His love, peace, joy, and provision, we settle for anxiety, envy, and dissatisfaction. The irony is painful: we are spiritual heirs who behave like paupers.

The older son’s frustration wasn’t rooted in his father’s unwillingness to give but in his own inability to receive. He didn’t need to earn his father’s favour or work harder for a greater share. Everything his father had was already his—freely given. As 1 Timothy 6:17 tells us,

“…God, richly gives us all things to enjoy.”

And so it is with us. God is not withholding His blessings; He has already poured them out in abundance. The challenge is not in convincing God to give but in reshaping our hearts to receive. We must learn to shift our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance, from striving for what we think we lack to resting in what we have already been given.

This is the call for every believer: to open our eyes, change our perspective, and feast at the banquet of God’s endless provision. It’s not just about knowing the Father’s generosity—it’s about stepping into it, living from it, and refusing to let a scarcity mindset rob us of the fullness of joy that is ours in Christ.

GOD’S MESSAGE TO US TODAY

God is saying the same thing to us that He said to the older son and to David:

“I have given you everything you need—and if you feel it’s not enough, I am more than willing to give you more.”

Paul reinforces this truth in Romans 8:32:

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

We are not orphans struggling to earn God’s love or provision. We are heirs, adopted into His family, with full access to His resources. Everything He has is ours.

NB! In a following series on this topic, we will be looking at how to receive what God has already given to us.

WHY DO WE STRUGGLE TO RECEIVE?

1. We Misunderstand God’s Nature
   Like the older son, we often see God as a master to serve rather than a Father who loves to bless. This misunderstanding blinds us to the riches of our inheritance in Christ.
2. We Compare Ourselves to Others
   The older son’s complaint wasn’t just about his father—it was about his brother. When we fixate on what God is doing in someone else’s life, we lose sight of His goodness in our own.
3. We Seek Fulfillment Outside of God
   David’s failure with Bathsheba stemmed from dissatisfaction. Instead of turning to God, he looked elsewhere to fill the void. When we seek satisfaction in the world, we miss the abundant life God offers.
4. We Live in Fear Instead of Faith
   Many Christians hold back, afraid to ask God for more or to step into His promises. But God delights in faith because it enables Him to love on us extravagently. As James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.”

LIVING IN THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S PROVISION

God’s heart is for us to live in the fullness of His love, power, and provision. He is not holding back; the issue lies in our ability to receive.

Here’s what this looks like practically:

• Shift Your Perspective
  CHOOSE: Stop seeing yourself as a servant striving for God’s favor. See yourself as a beloved child who has already been given access to everything the Father owns.
• Ask Boldly
  CLAIM: Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). Approach God with confidence, knowing He delights in blessing His children.
• Celebrate Others’ Blessings
  REJOICE: Instead of comparing, rejoice when others experience God’s favor. Their blessing does not diminish yours; there is more than enough in the Father’s house.
• Live Gratefully
  CELEBRATE: Gratitude opens our eyes to see what we already have. Like David, we must remember that God has already given us more than we can ever deserve.

Remember, these points reflect deliberate choices. We actively choose new thoughts and actions, embracing a different narrative that shapes our behavior.

THE INVITATION

Today, God is reminding you:

“You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)

He has held nothing back—not His love, not His Son, not His promises. Will you live as a child in the fullness of His provision, or will you stand outside, like the older son, focused on what you lack?

The choice is yours. God has already made His heart clear. If what you have isn’t enough, He will give you more. All you need to do is receive. Remember, God’s ability to give far outstrips our ability to receive, so let’s increase our faith so that we can receive all God has for us.

SUMMARY

This post unpacks the extravagant generosity of God, as revealed in the parable of the prodigal son and throughout Scripture. Here are the main takeaways:

• Living in the Fullness: To fully receive from God, we must shift our perspective, ask boldly, celebrate others’ blessings, and live with gratitude.
• God’s Generosity is Boundless: Like the father in the parable, God declares to His children, “Everything I have is yours.” He has already provided everything we need and is willing to give even more.
• Living Below Our Inheritance: The older son in the parable and David’s sin with Bathsheba highlight how easy it is to overlook or misuse God’s abundant blessings.
• Why We Struggle to Receive: Misunderstanding God’s nature, comparison, seeking fulfilment outside of Him, and fear keep us from experiencing the fullness of His provision.

This blog post explores the extravagant generosity of God through the parable of the prodigal son. It highlights the profound truth that everything God has is already ours in. God’s heart overflows with generosity toward His children, yet many live as though His blessings are transactional. God is more than willing to give all we need, but we often miss this because of a misunderstanding of His nature.

The older son in the parable and David’s sin serve as examples of how easy it is to misinterpret God’s character. Too often, Christians live like spiritual paupers while standing in the middle of God’s abundant provision.

COMMON REASONS PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO RECEIVE FROM GOD INCLUDE:

• Misunderstanding His nature
• Comparing themselves to others
• Seeking fulfillment outside of Him
• Living in fear rather than faith
• Complaining instead of offering gratitude

TO FULLY EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVE, POWER, AND PROVISION, THE SOURCES ENCOURAGE BELIEVERS TO:

• Shift their focus (perspective)
• Ask boldly
• Celebrate the blessings of others
• Give thanks and live in gratitude (Sacrificial)
• Trust God’s timing (when) and plan (how)

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What are the main barriers that prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God’s provision?
• How does the parable of the prodigal son illustrate the nature of God’s love and generosity?
• How can we shift our perspective and live in the fullness of God’s provision in our daily lives?
• How does the belief that everything God has is yours impact the way you approach your finances, your relationships, and your work?
• What are some practical steps you can take to shift your perspective from scarcity to abundance?