Living the Abundant Life

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” but he wasn’t talking about money.

Say the words “abundant life" and some people might think you mean material blessings. Little wonder, as the world’s message is, “Come, get stuff, achieve success, have it your way, and be happy,” The call of Jesus is, “Come, follow me, and receive abundant life.”

Maybe you find yourself wavering between the two world views. Material success and accumulation are enticing. After all, we are physical as well as spiritual beings, and we long to be comfortable, safe, and happy. What people so often forget is that material things have a shelf life— they don’t last. In light of eternity, human success means next to nothing. Even happiness is ambiguous.

What should we make of this “abundance,” then? The word sounds good, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want that? So, let’s look at what Jesus really means when he promises us abundance and why His way is so much better than anything we could ever ask for or imagine.

God made us for relationship with Himself and with each other as his people. The problem, right from the start, was rebellion. Since Adam, people have chosen to live life without God, separating themselves from a holy God by a gulf of sin. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) That is God’s answer to the rebellion problem. In Christ, we exchange death for abundant life. In the Old Testament, the term “abundance” definitely has a more material spin. As God’s people were entering Canaan, Moses tells them in Deuteronomy 28:11, “The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground, in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.” Then in Psalm 31:19, “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” Many of those promises of abundance were conditional— the people had to be faithful followers of God. Like us, however, they just couldn’t manage it and they ended up losing their abundance over and over through disobedience. Then Jesus changed everything. People on their own couldn’t live abundantly without slipping into greed, or fear, or idolatry. In Christ, abundance becomes real, and permanent, because it’s not about things anymore, it’s about a Person. __In Matthew 6:33 we find, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” __ Material needs and desires can take a backseat when we have a relationship with God through Jesus. We have what we need, materially, and an abundant life in Christ in the bargain. It’s the life in Christ that’s most satisfying, instead of the money, or success, or stuff.

If what Jesus offers us is so much better, why then do we settle for anything less than abundance? Three reasons come to mind:

First, we are self-centered by nature. We are so busy trying to justify our own desires and assumptions, that we forget it’s not about ourselves, but about Jesus. The second reason people miss the abundant life, is lack of personal engagement. Sometimes, our interaction with the Almighty is at arm’s length, and our understanding of God’s Word is second-hand. Podcasts, sermons, and devotionals are fine, but we need to read God’s word and and pray to know him more fully and mature in the faith. When we earnestly, personally seek the Lord, our Good Shepherd will lead us “in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (Ps 23:3) Thirdly, we can miss out on true abundance because we’re only going half-way with Jesus. We come to him to deal with our guilt, but not to be our Lord. Is salvation just fire insurance for you? Submission is the second half of the equation, and that’s a bit harder for some folks to swallow. We want Jesus to bail us out of our sin, but not to “direct our path.” (Prov. 3:6) The bottom line for abundance then, as Jesus meant it, is Jesus himself. Money, success and material possessions are poor masters. Work and family are God-ordained things, but even those are secondary. When Christ sits on the throne of your life, your life takes on a Kingdom shine. You don’t have to be a theological superstar, just an ordinary person who says “yes” to Jesus as savior and Lord. Ultimately, when Jesus calls us to abundant life, he’s calling us back home. The life he promises is satisfying, joyful, safe, and eternal, not just later, but starting now. You can also listen to the related podcast on this topic.