The Pauper Mentality

I've been reading the bible for more than 25 years now.  However, I know in my own experience there are just some scriptures that haven't impacted me that much.  There are parts of the bible that I'll read, but I don't get a lot of insight into.  I don't think its because I don't want to understand, its just that the lights aren't turning on (or the elevator doors didn't open....please feel free to fill in your own funny saying here).  By the way, if you have a thought on any of these blogs, please don't hesitate to comment or send me an email.  I'd love to hear from you.  You can put in your comments to any of the blog posts at the bottom and the blog site I'm using will help us keep a running conversation on that topic.


So, here is a scripture that I've probably read over about six or seven dozen times but never seemed to impact me....that is until just recently.


Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up: under a slave when he becomes king (Proverbs 30:21-22a NASB).  


I was reading a book called "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty" by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson; and in this book Kris began discussing what this verse means.  And then EUREKA!! God began opening up insight into what He's been doing in my life these past few months.


So why does the earth quake and cannot bear having a slave becoming a king?  This verse almost sounds un-American doesn't it?   Isn't that the whole touted idea that America is the place where nobodies can become somebodies?  I can just see Dan Rather running a story on CNN that extolls the wonders of how a low-down skid row homeless man getting the chance of a life-time and being elevated to being the CEO of Mega-Company USA.


To understand this verse, you have to understand the "mentality" of a slave.  A slave doesn't own anything, he doesn't have any rights, and he has no initiative because his time is not his own.  Consequently, a slave (or paupers) internal thoughts are that he is insignificant and a user rather than a person of resource.  When a person who has a slave mentality is elevated to a position of influence over others, they bring this mentality with them.


A king has tremendous influence over the destiny of the nation he rules.  I'm not talking about a figure-head king, but a king that has authority to enact laws, pass judgments, and direct resources.  A king's decree determines the future of how his kingdom will operate and who is elevated and who is not.  A king's initiatives have far reaching and long lasting effects on his kingdom.  The destiny of future generations of his kingdom is impacted by choices, decisions, and judgments made by him.  In light of this influence, how the king treats his subjects becomes absolutely life changing.


To give a good illustration of this, consider the biblical story of the prodigal son.  When the prodigal son returned to his father, the only thing he could express to his father was a request to have a position as a servant in the home he used to live in.  His father was running to him, had a robe and ring put on him, was hugging and kissing him, the fatted calf was cooking in the background...but all the while the prodigal couldn't get past the thinking of being unworthy to be his father's son.  Oh what a picture this is of the mentality of many in the church today.  God wants to love on us and pour out the goodness of His heart and we're struggling with the thoughts of unworthiness.  This struggle that the prodigal had and we have keeps us from receiving the over-whelming mercies and kindness that the Father has.  And it keeps us from moving into the role of a son...instead we stay in the mentality of a slave even though we are a son.


We are so focused on our past mistakes and who we were, that we can't see who we are. When we accepted Jesus as our savior, we passed from death to life; old things have passed away and all things have become new.  Our destiny has been changed, our heritage is now to be a partaker of the kingdom of heaven.  We have passed from being a slave into being a son or daughter.  There is a vast difference between being a slave and being a son or daughter.  Here's just a few differences:

• A slave takes orders; a son gives orders
• A slave is directed; a son is consulted
• A slave knows actions; a son knows the heart
• A slave knows the decree; a son knows the plan
• A slave has limited access; a son has access to everything
• A slave carries out directions; a son sets the course of action
• A slave sees the king; a son lives with the king
• A slave fears the king; a son loves the king
• A slave operates through obedience; a son operates out of relationship

Please feel free to add your own slave/son differences in the comments section.  I just quickly rattled off some that came to mind.  But as you can see in just these brief few we have a totally different perspective of the king and his kingdom depending on our state of mind.

When a slave is elevated to a position of influence over others, they will treat others as they see themselves.  They will treat others as insignificant and unable to think creatively.  A slave will quickly dismiss the importance of his influence over others not realizing that he is affecting the destiny of those he has been put in charge of.  This can be very tragic.  Very tragic.


Not only will a slave treat others as insignificant, but he will not recognize the value and importance of resources given to him.  And he will interpret events and the actions of others through the lens of poverty.  This mentality will affect the big things, the little things, and everything in between.  


I wish I didn't have experience understanding this pauper mentality, but unfortunately I do.  Here is a most recent example of how this type thinking affects us.  For the past few months I have been woken in the middle of the night, feeling God's presence in my bedroom.  For a while this was bothering me because I wasn't getting any particular message from God.  So why was I bothered....glad you asked.  I began thinking I must be dull or something is wrong with me that I couldn't hear what God was saying.  And then after several months, it finally dawned on me that maybe...just maybe God was showing me His presence because He wants to just be with me.  The pauper says, "something is wrong".  The son says, "Hey Papa, I love you".  


Do you think that just maybe sometimes God wants to just hang out with you?  Love on you without having to have an agenda?  The son says yes; the pauper says maybe (with a little fear of angering the king).


This mentality has to go for us to live in the glorious liberty that God intends for us to live in.  It is absolutely critical for us to be healed in this area of our lives.  This mentality will affect everything we do and how we treat the world around us.  God intends for us to shine the brightness of His glorious liberty to all of creation and particularly those held captive by Satanic deception.


Blessings to you!!