How to discern the spirit of poverty
It's sneakier than you think.
Hello Financial Healers,
The other day, a client asked if we could do a Financial Sozo. We met and worked through their issues, and discovered a lie that was fueling a sneaky poverty behavior: over-generosity.
Huh? That’s weird. How is over-generosity a sign of poverty?
The spirit of poverty can be tricky. It doesn’t come out and say, “I’m a poverty mindset!” It can manifest in seemingly unrelated ways.
During the Financial Sozo, my client discovered that they were giving away too much money. Holy Spirit revealed that they didn’t believe they were worth investing in. My client lavishly gave away funds, but this dipped into their living needs and harmed their peace.
This is how people can go into debt through generosity. On the surface, giving seems honorable, but if you neglect your own needs to the point of accumulating debt, that’s a sign of the spirit of poverty.
What does the Bible say about Over-generosity?
It’s hard to believe that generosity can be unhealthy. As Christians, we’re convinced that giving is good, and it is! Scripture promotes giving. Here are some verses reaffirming this truth:
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? - 1 John 3:17
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. - Luke 12:33
Reading these verses, it’s hard to think: Is it ever wrong to give? The answer is yes. Here’s one instance: giving becomes dangerous when we neglect our own needs—especially those of our family. It violates God’s commands of provision and protection. Consider this verse:
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8 NIV
Worse than an unbeliever? Ouch. It’s evident that God cares deeply about our families. He expects spouses, especially husbands, to provide for their homes. This is why when you’re in debt, or teetering toward it, giving is wrong.
Get your Finances in Shape, then Give.
Over-giving stems from a mindset of scarcity, a key sign of the spirit of poverty. When you struggle with this thinking, you give out of a need to prove your worth to God. But this traps you in a cycle of instability, which sacrifices your family’s needs for the sake of others. It’s not right.
Partnership with Holy Spirit
One way to resolve over-generosity is to turn to the Holy Spirit. He’s the One Who can search our hearts and remove a poverty lie’s influence. Use these steps to partner with Him and identify the source of ungodly behavior:
Ask the Holy Spirit what’s really going on. Say, “Holy Spirit, is there a lie I’m believing?”
If He identifies a lie, renounce partnership with it. Say, “I see you, spirit of poverty, and I send you back in Jesus’ Name. I renounce the lie that I’m not worth investing in, and I receive Your truth. Jesus, what truth do You want me to know?”
Once Jesus reveals His truth, discern how you can activate it in your life. In my client’s case, he heard God say, “Your life is valuable. The more strength you receive, the more you can pour into others.” This spoke deeply to his heart, and inspired him to retool his giving, so he could save more money.
The goal of this process is not just to remove a poverty mindset, but also the lens of orphanhood. The orphan spirit says you are not enough, you are not worthy, and victory is not even worth fighting for because you’ll always be stuck in the same cycle.
That’s a pretty disempowering outlook.
But imagine viewing life through Christ’s spirit of adoption, which says you are loved, protected, and accepted by God. This outlook honors your financial necessities, and gives you permission to steward your wealth, because caring for others also means caring for yourself.
P.S. For an even deeper look at the signs of the spirit of poverty, check out my ecourse: Prosperous Soul Online: Foundations.
God bless your Prosperous Soul,
Stephen K. De Silva
About: Stephen K. De Silva is an author, speaker, and financial coach. From 1995 until 2017, he served as the CFO of Bethel Church, and a member of the senior leadership team. Stephen’s blend of experience, training, and gifting make him a pioneer in the subject of money. You can reach Stephen at hello@prosperoussoul.com
Reading this made huge shift within me. I’ll never be the same.