“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Scarcity is something we all understand, even if we’ve never studied it.
Economics tells us that life involves managing limited resources. We can’t have everything, so we must choose.
Ethics asks a deeper question: How should limited resources be shared? Who should receive, and why?
Psychology reminds us how powerfully scarcity shapes us. When something feels limited, it suddenly feels urgent. We hurry. We grasp. We fear missing out.
And philosophers have long observed that many of our conflicts, between neighbors and nations, begin with the belief that there isn’t enough to go around.
Yet scarcity is not merely an economic or cultural concept. It is a theme that runs through Scripture as well. In the only psalm penned by Moses, he asks God to “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (v. 12).
We are not naturally aware of our limited time. So our eternal Creator must teach us to take notice of our finite nature.
While God is described as being “from everlasting to everlasting” (v. 2), we return to dust (v. 3) and fade and wither like grass (v. 6).
While some might worry that numbering our days would create a morbid obsession or an unhealthy fixation on prolonging our lives, for many, that anxiety is already a daily companion.
However, the instruction to number our days is not a call to despair but an invitation to clarity and purpose. Scarcity, when properly understood, becomes a lens that sharpens our priorities. God uses the awareness of our limited time to make eternal realities more precious. Every day becomes a gift, an opportunity to practice kindness, seek justice, extend grace, and deepen our love for Him and for others.
Moses calls us to see time as a resource, not to be hoarded or squandered, but to be invested in what truly matters. In a world obsessed with chasing youth, wealth, and recognition, Scripture flips the paradigm: the most valuable investments are in godly character, love, and obedience.
Scarcity, then, is not something to fear; it is something to leverage for spiritual growth.
Yet numbering our days also brings humility. The recognition that life is limited reminds us that we are not in ultimate control. It teaches us to depend on God daily, to entrust Him with our plans and our future. Moses’ plea, “teach us to number our days,” is as much a request for divine guidance as it is an acknowledgment of human limitation. Scarcity is not meant to make us anxious, but to make us wise, discerning, and fully reliant on God’s providence.
So, how do we apply this wisdom practically? Begin by reflecting on the brevity of life, allowing it to shape your decisions and your priorities. Choose generosity over greed, compassion over indifference, and service over self-centeredness.
Scarcity viewed through the lens of Scripture transforms from a source of fear into a teacher of wisdom. It reminds us that every day is an opportunity to glorify God.
Want to know how to live life to the full? Number your days.
Prayer: Almighty God, like Moses, I ask that You teach me to number my days that I may get a heart of wisdom. Help me to refuse the illusion of endless tomorrows. Fix my heart on what is eternal, and guide me to spend my time in ways that honor You and love others well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More?
Read Matthew 6:19–20. What is the contrast Jesus establishes between “treasures on earth” and “treasures in heaven”? What assumptions does Jesus make about material possessions in this passage? What currently occupies most of your mental energy: temporary security or eternal investment? What are you most afraid of losing? What does that reveal?
