The second foundation to staying on the road to lacking nothing is demonstrated in Mark chapter 10. It is the story of the rich young ruler.
This young man was hungry for more of God in his life. He asked Jesus what he could do to inherit eternal life. When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, he said he had kept them from his youth. Then Jesus said something remarkable:
“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (v. 21 NKJV).
Jesus loved this man and asked him to become one of His disciples. Just one thing remained to be learned. He must learn to be a giver. He must learn the power of giving.
The very heart of God is in giving. John 3:16 begins, “God so loved the world that He gave…” (NKJV). Giving is the central part of godly living. This man only needed to shift his priorities in this area and he would make a powerful disciple.
Jesus didn’t want this man to be poor. Poverty is a curse, and God is not bringing poverty on anyone. Proverbs 19:17 says, “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (NKJV). This man would have received back anything he had given. God’s Word guaranteed it. But this man walked away from Jesus sad because he valued his possessions more than God.
When we embrace the power of giving, we embrace God’s promise of increase for all that we give. Mark 10:29-30 says,
“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
To continue on the road to lacking nothing will take wisdom from God. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (NKJV).
After James referred to lack, the first thing he indicates is the need for wisdom. If we lack wisdom, ask for it.
Wisdom is to know the real need and the right answer. Wisdom gives us the ability to accurately use knowledge. The wisest man to ever write his thoughts, Solomon, said, “Wisdom is the principal thing…” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV).
God will bring stability to us from His wisdom. Isaiah 33:6 says, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure” (NKJV).
God’s wisdom is available to us for the asking—wisdom for any lack we face in our marriage, finances, health, or personal peace. Anything that is lacking can be brought to a place of abundance.
Jesus said He has come for this reason, “…that they may have life and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10 AMP).
Overflow. That’s where lack comes to an end. We were made for His overflow. It is in us and available to us now. Attack lack and let the overflow begin!
