Poverty Mentality

I read an article title 3 signs of poverty mentality by Randy Gage at www.getmotivation.com today and I was quite agreed with the signs he suggested. He outlines the signs which are natural to human behavior every time a person faces scarcity or lack of resources.

Sign # 1- Constant Fixation on Money- Everybody does that regardless you are poor or rich. The rich dream of getting richer and the poor thinking of how to pay the bills. But it is how and to what degree you manifested yourself on money issue.

Sign #2- Jealousy of Rich People- If you are jealous of rich people and wanting to own what they had you yourself instill hatred of you wanting to get from where you are now to where you want to be at par with them. This is where the real problem starts for yourself. You are not realizing your internal conflict and drawn away the success that comes near you.

Sign #3- Fear Based Decision Making- in Singapore is called “Kiasu” or afraid to lose. This is where you make decision based of fear on loosing your money, your prosperity or your success. The decisions are not made on what the possible benefits are, but made in order to avoid a possible negative outcome. If you make decisions--particularly money and career ones--based on the "moving away from fear" model, you’ve got poverty programming. If your decisions are made based on a positive "move toward prosperity" model, then you have success programming.

The author goes on by saying poverty is a mindset of an individual. How you circumvent the weaknesses, discover and eliminate the poverty mentality replace with positive elements by watch, listen and associates with positive people. He further said prosperity is richness in mindset not abundant of money or resources. This is the end result of what you get by abandon the poverty mentality

Comparatively in Christian world , Bible has taught us that God promises us riches and blessing untold long time ago. In the book of Deutronomy chapter 28 God bless us if we constantly abide in his command. Verse 12 said “ The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its seasons, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow” As a Christian we should feel blessed with the word of God guarantee us abundant prosperity. We should receive it with open heart and not be doubt if we ever taste of it. Very often we find Christian himself or herself fails to see themself blessed. There are many reason why Christain feel this way. Lack of spiritual confidence, lack of knowledge in the word of God, lack of pastoral guidance and lack of personal experiences with God are some signs where false form of humility masquerades behind this doubtfulness and leads to a poverty mindset.


In the book of Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. The fear of lack is greatest challenge for everyone but God’s provision is always greater. God’s always attentive to your needs even you did not ask Him. I must admit all of us will face a fear of lack sometime in our lives―whether it’s a lack of food, money, relationships, good health, or the basic provisions needed. God is greater than any fear and he answers our fear of lack with an invitation to faith the He is more than enough. There are many bible story God’s provides on time such as 1 Kings 17, we read two powerful stories of God as provider back-to-back. The prophet Elijah is in need of food and God provides for him in two miraculous but very different ways. Have faith in God and live to ask and pray to God. God will not run out of provision because in Isaiah 40:28 “ Do you not know? Have you not heard? Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the end of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom” So God is forever provider to you. You are precious in the sight of God. In Mathew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

If your mentality is always lack of this and that you need to stop yourself and ponder for a while do you want to be this forever or do you want a miraculous change in your life. Meditate on the Bible words each day and pray for God’s guidance through Holy Spirit. If not enough associate with brothers or sisters whose life been touch by God and learn to absorb the positive things from them. God’s promises will always be there for you only will you reach out and touch it.