Although we don’t tend to see it much… mostly because of the tendency of the church to be “separated” from the world, rather than “in” the world but not part of the world… the truth is that our world is full of unhappy and dissatisfied people. People everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. We will try anything, if it might bring us some sort of satisfaction or happiness. Maybe this explains why there are so many single parent homes, and divorce, suicide, drug dependency, alcohol abuse, crime, prostitution, depression, pornography, eating disorders, and emotional, and psychological disorders… We are messed up! America is a wonderful, blessed country, but we are messed up!
So, what is the solution? Materialism and wealth? Power and prestige? Is it Religion? What will make people happy and content? Everybody has an answer. But I happen to believe the Bible when it says, "There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end, it produces death," (Proverbs 14:12)…I also believe there is an answer to the eternal question, "How do I find happiness and satisfaction in life?" Jesus stated it in John 10:10 - He said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" or “have it more abundantly.” What did Jesus mean when he said that we can have "life to the full?" What really is an “abundant life?”
A good dictionary will define the word "full" as "complete, perfect, being at the highest or greatest degree, the maximum". So when this word is in reference to one’s life, it would mean a life that is complete, not lacking in anything essential; reaching our maximum potential of happiness and satisfaction and quality. The good news is that not only did Jesus come to save us, but he also came to give us an abundant life! This is kind of like an added blessing: eternal life, plus "life to the full. It amazes me to think there are so many Christians not living life to the full – life in abundance – Perhaps it is because they don’t know what it is! Or, they think it is only available to a select few that God chooses to “bless.” That simply is not true… It is God’s will for all Christians to live an abundant life. We just need to find out what it is, and how to live it.
First of all, Abundant living is a life that is not filled with “good things” but with the things that are good for us.
People who enjoy the abundant life will possess all of the following qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, All these things are good for us! What is that? (The fruit of the Spirit.) In other words they will have allowed the Holy Spirit to flow into them – fill them – and overflow through them to others! They will have compassion, purity, humility, modesty, a strong faith, and character. They possess wisdom and enthusiasm, dignity, optimism, confidence, honesty, and a strong relationship with God. In other words, the abundant life is full of all the things money can’t buy. No matter how much money you have, you can not buy any of these qualities. And yes, you can possess all of these qualities! You can get everyone of these things from God.
Second - The "abundant life" is free from the things that are bad for us. Everyone who lives the abundant life avoids the negative qualities of: Selfishness, hatred, lust, unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, fear, drunken-ness, sexual immorality, discord, fits or rage, dishonesty, greed, malicious gossipping, slander, pessimism and despair. People with these issues often spend lots of money on therapy and counseling in order to keep it from destroying them and their relationships with their loved-ones. The more these negative qualities are a part of a person’s behavior, the farther they are from obtaining this thing called "abundant life." And by the way, yes, God can remove all of these negative character-istics from a person’s life… Every one of them! God is greater than all these things!
Most of this comes from 1& 2 Corinthians…At one time, the people of Corinth, lived a life full of wickedness and evil, but when Jesus was introduced to these people, by the power and grace of God, many were able to free themselves from these wrong and sinful traits and actions. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6:11 "And this is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." If the Corinthians were able to get free from these destructive behaviors, by the grace of God, this means that you and I can, too.
It doesn’t matter that you are hot-tempered, for example, God can change that! So it’s no longer an excuse to say, "This is who I am and I can’t change that. You must accept me as I am!" No, we don’t! People who are living the abundant life that Jesus came to give do not walk around like a warm can of soda-pop that is about to explode at any minute. Everyone can be free from their personal weaknesses causing pain to others and embarrassment to themselves. That’s just one of the benefits of seeking and living the abundant life.
The “Abundant Life" is found in Christ and no where else. Everyone who does not have Jesus in their life, will not be able to experience true abundant living. While many non- Christians experience some happiness and satisfaction in their lives, when you think about it, it is usually because they practice these qualities that make up the abundant life, such as patience, integrity, and compassion and kindness… And, they also avoid many of the things that destroy the abundant life like those I mentioned earlier. However, we must realize that no matter how much happiness a non-Christian experiences, it is unfortunately limited in quality and it’s only temporary. The facts are that anyone without the saving grace of Jesus is spiritually dead. A person cannot live the "abundant life" if they are spiritually dead…there is still something missing in their life. We have heard many testimonies about this over the years from many of the “rich and famous” of the world.
This is a hard concept even for many Christians to accept. Many assume the abundant life depends on one’s circumstances, or fate or luck, or their bank account, or their status in life, being born to wealthy parents. No doubt, these things are highly valued in our lives, but in reality, wealth, power, status, and worldly pleasure have nothing to do with living the abundant life.
So, how do we identify the "Abundant Life?" The "Abundant life" life means that there is an abundance of something. Such a person is getting the most out of life. They are living it to the fullest. They are not just merely existing, or simply "trying to make a living." They have learned to see what life is really all about. These people quietly go about their lives full of meaning and hope, happiness, satisfaction, health, vitality, and peace of mind. They enjoy quality friendships, have good family relations, and a strong faith in God. Their life becomes an adventure worth living.
But, I must also tell you what abundant life is not. It is not necessarily a life of comfort and ease. Some-times we need to "go through the fire" in order for it to melt away the impurities inside us. This is how God refines us. It is not dependent on outside circumstances. It’s not what happens to you that is nearly as important as how you respond to it. It also is not glamorous, flashy or outwardly impressive. The abundant life is much like that small gate and narrow road that Jesus told us about in Matthew 7:13. The reason why so few will find it is because it takes effort to even notice it; and even more effort to live it! It has no flashing lights, or bells and whistles. It is not necessarily obtained quickly. It is a process that often takes time. For the next few days I am going to focus in on the scripture from John 15:1-17 which is the teaching of Jesus about the vine and the branches. This is the key to living the abundant life. This key scripture has within it five other “keys” that are all a part of the abundant life Jesus came to give....
I pray that this will be a
blessing to all who are following my blog.
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