Hoarding is a Sign of the Poverty Spirit

hoarding

Did you know that hoarding is a sign of the poverty spirit? I’ve been teaching this for years.

When my wife and I were first married, we were so poor. It was hard not to hold on to stuff, thinking, We might need this later. 

Eventually, our trinkets stacked up. Our backyard began to resemble a junkyard. 

It took our children and grandkids visiting over the summer to finally convince us to clear this stuff out.

During one boiling Memorial weekend, Dawna and I went through our entire yard, loaded every useless item into our trailer, and hauled it off.

It was 3 solid days of back-breaking work, but I’m so glad we did it.

Today, our grandkids can wander outside freely, without the fear of tripping on some useless metal contraption.

When I first started teaching in the 2000s, I had no idea hoarding was a sign of the poverty spirit. 

But once I began researching for my book, I realized it made total sense!

junkyard pile of old rusty cars

Hoarding is all about fear and scarcity. It’s a presumption of lack. 

Someone believes there’s a limit on provision, so they store anything that appears remotely useful.  

Now, please note: squirreling can also be a sign of mental decline. If you suspect a loved one is stockpiling because of cognitive problems, seek professional help. 

The Spiritual Side of Hoarding

Those who struggle with runaway storing can collect anything: plastic containers, clothes, or pens. 

Point is, they hold onto things that retain little or no value, even if they’re unsure that they’ll need them later.

While hoarding seems like a role of stewardship, it’s actually a sign of the poverty spirit. Scripture tells us there’s more than enough:

piggy bank sitting on pile of gold coins

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

It also states:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:31-33 ESV 

And it reminds us:

“The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” – Proverbs 10:22 ESV

In summary, God provides all that you need. There’s no reason to worry. 

That’s why hoarding is a sign of the poverty spirit. It denies the Lord’s ability to provide.

Side note: storing junk is different from saving assets. There’s a reason people collect stamps, cars, or homes, which can gain value over time.

The New Testament promises us access to a life of abundance. We don’t need to cling to our junk.

If you find yourself hoarding, repent and ask God to show you the truth of His provision.

A Prayer to Break Free from the Poverty Spirit

If you struggle with hoarding, declare this prayer: 

“Jesus, forgive me for opening a door to the poverty spirit. Release me from partnership with lack. I confess that You are my provider and protector. I hand responsibility of provision to You, and ask that You give me an identity of abundance in exchange. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

A Prophetic Act to close this door

This week, take a look around your house. Are there piles of junk that need to be disposed of?

If so, do the important task of clearing it out. Set aside 2 to 3 days. (Break it up over several weekends, if needed.)

Gather up your trinkets in a pickup or trailer and haul them to the dump. 

View this as a prophetic exercise to signal that you’re turning back to God as your provider, and breaking free from the poverty spirit.

P.S: For an even deeper look at the signs of a poverty mindset, check out my online training, Prosperous Soul Online: Foundations. 

17 Signs of the Poverty Spirit

signs of a poverty spirit

A poverty spirit is a victim mindset that presumes scarcity. It’s a powerless viewpoint that believes: 

  • Money, promotion, and wealth is limited.
  • Opportunities are hard to come by.
  • Rich people are greedy.
  • You’ll never be financially free.

The poverty spirit affects the rich and the poor. It focuses on what you don’t have. 

When a victim mindset like this gains influence in your life, it forces you to act in unhealthy ways.

This is why Financial Healing is so crucial. 

You can work with the Holy Spirit to identify and remove the destructive behaviors.

To aid your journey toward prosperous living, here’s a list of 17 signs of the poverty spirit. 

Familiarize yourself with these habits, so you can reject them from your life:

  • Resentful when others succeed – A poverty spirit makes you feel jealous of others’ success, even in areas you’re not pursuing.

     

  • Quitting in the face of trials – Those influenced by a poverty mindset believe they can’t get ahead, no matter what. But Scripture states, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 ESV

     

  • Quickly surrendering when confronted – Those who struggle with a victim mindset can’t handle feedback, even if it’s presented in a kind manner.

     

  • Always blaming yourself – A poverty spirit convinces you that every obstacle or challenge is your fault, even when it’s not your responsibility.

     

  • Hoarding – My wife and I used to hoard so many trinkets and toys. Our backyard started to resemble a junkyard! Eventually, we loaded our stuff into a trailer and hauled it off. Today, our property is beautiful and has plenty of room for our grandchildren to play.

     

  • Impulse buying, with remorse – A victim mindset presumes there is never enough, so impulse buying, mixed with regret, is common.

     

  • Giving away money you shouldn’t – Over-generosity is a sign of the poverty spirit. Don’t believe me? Read this post on the subject.
  • Presuming failure before beginning – People with a victim mindset claim they’re just being “realistic.” But Prosperous Souls recognize challenges ahead and meet them with ferocity.  

  • Running away from creative ideas – Those who partner with lack shy away from creative solutions. But Kingdom thinking is innovative! We must seize God’s ideas and abandon those that no longer work.

  • Awkward side hugs, where you cower low – Years ago, one of my clients greeted me with an awkward side hug. In that moment, I realized: This person believes they have no value. I confronted them on this action and they confessed to having a lack of confidence. 

  • Procrastinating important tasks – A poverty spirit cripples your ability to move forward with responsibility.

  • Always talking about things but never starting them – Kingdom thinking requires you to back up your ideas with solutions. Anyone can sprinkle out ideas. It takes courage to execute them. 
  • Having trouble sleeping because of worry – Stress is not God’s will for your life. If you struggle with sleep, partner with the Holy Spirit’s peace. Say, “Holy Spirit, I give you worry and ask for Your rest in exchange.”

  • Complaining about rich people – Those influenced by a poverty spirit despise those who rise from the grime. As Prosperous Souls, we honor everyone who is blessed by God. 

  • Inability to say “no” or keep boundaries – People who struggle with a victim mindset lack self-value. They can’t honor themselves, so they refuse to protect their own needs. 

  • Hiding from the amounts you owe (debt) – Hiding from your numbers is a key sign of a poverty spirit. Prosperous Souls know their financial figures, and aren’t afraid to improve them. 

  • Self-pity parties – Powerless thinking tricks you into wallowing in self-pity, instead of choosing to grow. 

  • Inability to imagine a better tomorrow – Those who partner with a victim mindset kill their ability to dream. But God calls us to hope and imagine. Scripture says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12 ESV

If you recognize any of these behaviors, congratulations! You’ve identified the presence of a poverty spirit.

The next step is to remove its influence through partnership with Jesus. We’ll go over this in a future post. 

In conclusion, here’s a Financial Healing prayer:

“Holy Spirit, thank You for revealing the signs of the poverty spirit. Please remove its influence from my life and equip me to embrace the identity of a Prosperous Soul. I reject anxiety, hopelessness, and lack, in Jesus’ Name. I receive peace, hope, and abundance in exchange. Amen.”

P.S. For an even deeper look at the signs of the poverty spirit, check out Appendix C of my manual, Prosperous Soul Online: Foundations.