Why is There Lack?

Reasons For Lack

You cannot conquer what you do not confront; you cannot confront what you do not identify. Poverty is to be depleted or to be a lack of the things you need. Though most people think of poverty as a lack of finances, it is not limited to that anymore than prosperity is just a financial term. To prosper means to have wholeness -- spirit, soul, mind and body. While it includes your finances, prosperity is not materialism, it is a wholeness word that means everything prospering, everything functioning properly in your life. Poverty is a depletion -- prosperity is wholeness.

If there is a lack of joy, lack of finances, lack of restoration, lack of peace, lack of anything that God has for you, then you must identify the cause of that lack before you can overcome it. As it is often said, only a fool will expect different results from doing the exact same thing over and over again. We are not called to be foolish, but to be wise. There are several reasons the Bible gives for having lacked in our lives.

The first biblical reason for lack comes from having an unteachable spirit.

In Proverbs 13:18 it says "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regards reproof shall be honored." The New Living Translation puts it this way: "If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept criticism, you will be honored." There have been many times I was so grieved and felt deep concern or sorrow for someone who's suddenly decided they needed no accountability or teaching. When you stop learning you stop growing.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and they never entered his rest -- his best -- for them because they were a "stubborn and stiff-necked people." They were unteachable. If you wonder if you have had an unteachable spirit, ask the Lord. See the Holy Spirit -- he will show you.

The second reason I see for lack in our lives comes from laziness.

The Bible warns against laziness, "yet a little more sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall your poverty come as the one that travails and your want as an armed man" (Proverbs 24:33 -- 34). Anyone who thinks God is going to simply rain His blessings down on you while you sit back and take it easy -- you have been deceived. Remember: the devil is a liar! He does not want you blessed, because then you will magnify God to all who watch your life. Laziness will never allow you to experience the full list of the promises of God.

We must live by faith, but we are also to put works with our faith (see James 1:22). We are to act, to move out in that faith. You have to be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. You have to work the Word and resist the forces that come up against you and move in faith.

This third reason is what I believe affects most of us-- ignorance

"My people were destroyed in for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). It does not get much clearer than that. Destruction is a sure sign of lack! And notice who is destroyed: My people. People who love God and have a relationship with him are destroyed because of ignorance, a lack of knowledge, and an unawareness of information. They are lacking in an abundance of life because of things they do not know. As Solomon said, "By knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches" (Proverbs 24:4). Perhaps you have heard the saying, "It's what you don't know that is killing you." I have found that you can have a "right heart" and a "wrong head," in which case you will live the defeated or deficient in the areas.

Another cause for a spirit of lack in our lives comes from oppressing the poor.

God increases the person who takes care of the poor -- the person who is openhanded instead of a closed fisted. It is something He is a very serious about, even telling the Israelites not to glean every single grain from their fields or grape from their vines, in order to leave some for the poor to harvest for themselves. The Bible tells us that we are not aware that some strangers may even be angels. What if God set you up for promotion by placing someone in your life that had need, that was poor, and you bypassed that person? Find someone that is in a less fortunate situation than you. Give to them. Giving is not isolated to dollars and cents it may be food, a hug, education, love or time. Everything in life can be a "seat at" to be sown into the life of another person.

Sometimes lack simply comes from misfortune

The Gospel is the book of Good News, and Romans 8:28 is it exactly that: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." So when the enemy does is send in misfortune, look at it like this: "It's not my stumbling block. Gods taking what the enemy mints forbade in turning it around for good." Somehow, someway, there is "good" coming out of this misfortune!

Lack can also be a direct result of disobedience.

Deuteronomy 28 is all about the blessings of obedience and the curses of this obedience. But the curses are just as real. God does not "curse you," but your direct disobedience brings consequences that can hurt you and others and potentially be tragic. That is why God declares, "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Withholding will lead to lack in our lives

Proverbs 11:24-26 says, "One man who gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell." our God expects us to deal generously with others, trusting him to provide for our needs.