Episode 887
Embracing Abundance: A Biblical Perspective on Scarcity
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
In an exploration of the transformative power of faith as articulated in Luke 12:29-32, Dr. Brad Miller invites listeners to engage with the profound implications of Jesus’ teachings on abundance versus scarcity. The discourse initiates a critical reflection on the anxieties fostered by a capitalist society, wherein the relentless pursuit of material wealth engenders a debilitating fear of inadequacy. Dr. Miller posits that Jesus’ exhortation to 'relax' serves not only as a personal mantra but as a radical challenge to the cultural norms that valorize competition and individualism. He articulates a vision of economics rooted in mutual aid, positing that true security emerges from collective action rather than solitary striving. This episode further examines the spiritual ramifications of embracing a communal inheritance of the kingdom, wherein resources are shared responsibly, thus fostering a robust sense of community. As listeners grapple with the practicalities of this theological framework, Dr. Miller provides actionable steps aimed at cultivating a culture of abundance, encouraging engagement in community initiatives that promote equitable resource distribution and collective flourishing, thereby actualizing the kingdom ethos in their daily lives.
Takeaways:
- This episode emphasizes the importance of transitioning from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, which is fundamentally aligned with divine principles.
- The discussion centers on Jesus' radical message regarding the necessity of collective care and mutual support within communities.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage in practical actions that promote communal sharing and to rethink traditional economic paradigms of individualism and competition.
- The episode presents a vision of the kingdom of God as a shared inheritance that prioritizes communal resources over private ownership and hierarchical wealth.
- Practical steps are suggested for individuals to foster abundance sharing, such as initiating community food programs or joining mutual aid networks.
- The podcast concludes with a prayer that invokes a divine perspective on abundance, urging listeners to trust in God's provision amidst a culture of scarcity.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
From Scarcity to Abundance.
Speaker A: A reflection on Luke: Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me in this quest that I have to get the audible word of God into 2 million years.
Speaker A: That's a million people by: Speaker A:We do that by an everyday reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We read from the Revised Common Lectionary which is the selected verse for this very day.
Speaker A:It's part of a three year cycle.
Speaker A:We're in year C of that of that three year cycle and we're on the Easter tide season.
Speaker A:We make the reading of the Bible understandable.
Speaker A:We use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder, applicable give you some action steps to take.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes with a prayer to boot.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's our website, the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Here's our reading for the day.
Speaker A:From Luke chapter 12, verses 29 through 32.
Speaker A:The reading from the message what I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.
Speaker A:People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things.
Speaker A:But you know both God and how he works.
Speaker A:Steep yourself in God reality, God initiative, God provisions.
Speaker A:You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Speaker A:Don't be afraid of missing out.
Speaker A:You're my dearest friends.
Speaker A:The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
Speaker A:This is Jesus radical teaching about moving beyond a scarcity mentality toward divine abundance.
Speaker A:So let's get into some points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one is to go and is about going beyond capitalistic anxiety.
Speaker A:Jesus calls us to quote, quote, relax, not be so preoccupied with getting that directly challenges our capitalistic culture of endless consumption and accumulation.
Speaker A:This isn't about individual prosperity, but about reimagining economics entirely.
Speaker A:When Jesus talks about God's giving, he's pointing toward systems of mutual care and shared resources rather than competitive acquisition.
Speaker A:Another point is about collective security.
Speaker A:The promise that every day human concerns will be met isn't about individual wealth, but about community care.
Speaker A:Jesus is describing what we might call mutual aid or solidarity economics.
Speaker A:That is where systems where community needs are met through collective action rather than individual striving.
Speaker A:This challenges both prosperity gospel and pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, individualism.
Speaker A:A third point is about kingdom as common.
Speaker A:When Jesus says the Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself, he's talking about a collective inheritance, not private property.
Speaker A:This vision of the kingdom suggests a common shared set of resources shared responsibly shared abundance.
Speaker A:This challenges both private ownership of essential resources and hierarchical control of community wealth.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an action step.
Speaker A:Identify one way you can move from scarcity thinking to abundance sharing.
Speaker A:And this might mean getting involved with or starting a community food sharing program.
Speaker A:Or joining some sort of a mutual aid network where assistance is divided up in an equitable manner.
Speaker A:Or converting private property into some sort of a community space.
Speaker A:Or advocating for commons based solution the community needs.
Speaker A:Remember, remember the kingdom is meant to be shared, not hoarded.
Speaker A:We're going to have a closing prayer in just a minute.
Speaker A:Just a reminder.
Speaker A:We have a great resource for you.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It will help you read the Bible in your own right and I want you to go over to voiceofgoddaily.com and pick it up.
Speaker A:It will help you in your daily Bible reading.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are the divine source of abundance.
Speaker A:We live in a world driven by scarcity fears and accumulation anxiety.
Speaker A:Help us trust in your economics of enough.
Speaker A:When capitalism tells us to hoard and compete, remind us of your vision of shared abundance.
Speaker A:Guide us in creating systems of mutual care and collective provision.
Speaker A:Show us how to move from private ownership to community commons, from individual scarcity to collective flourishing.
Speaker A:Give us courage to imagine and create the economics of care.
Speaker A:In hope and trust we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:It's beautiful to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:I love to be with you every day and that's where all you'll find me tomorrow.
Speaker A:You're going to find me right here at Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Hope that you'll join me and bring a friend.
Speaker A:Until that time, remember that God's that we are here to bring the word of God audibly to imagine million people.
Speaker A: million years by: Speaker A:So tomo till tomorrow friends.
Speaker A:Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.
Speaker A:Every morning.
