Scripture John 10:10
Our world is full of unhappy and dissatisfied people. For this reason, people everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. These people will try anything, if it might bring them some sort of satisfaction or happiness. So, what is the solution? Materialism and wealth? I think we have all heard the saying “Money can’t buy happiness”… Pleasure and enjoyment? Well they may bring a momentary or temporary sense of happiness or satisfaction…but, soon we know that doesn’t work either. What about Power and prestige? Or, Religion? …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. Maybe we will never really be happy in this life. Well, it all depends on your idea of happiness.
However, I think there is an answer to the eternal question, "How do I find happiness and satisfaction in life?" Jesus stated the answer in our scripture – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
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 much like a second blessing: eternal life, plus "life to the full"! The hope of a wonderful, eternal life to come…and also an abundant life right here, right now.
Ques. – What does the abundant life consist of? What would it look like to you? Let me tell you something I have learned from God’s Word concerning people who really live and enjoy the abundant life… They will possess all of these qualities: and it will show… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol, all of which are the fruit of the Spirit. And, let me say one thing about this; these are not individual fruit of which you can have one or two and not the others!... This is the “fruit”- singular- of the Spirit. You don’t live an abundant life if you have peace and kindness but no joy or love!
People who live and enjoy the abundant life have compassion, humility, modesty, dignity, faith, character, wisdom, enthusiasm, optimism, confidence, honesty, and a vital, passionate relationship with God…and they have a passion for what they are doing. 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 more patience, self-control, or salvation! You can’t buy the desire or passion to do something. Hardware stores do not sell wisdom or hope. And, in case you are wondering, yes, you can possess all of these qualities! You can get everyone of these things from God, who is the giver of all good things.
But, remember also that the “opposite of truth is also true”… So, everyone who desires to live the abundant life avoids these negative qualities that are just the opposite and lead to an unhappy and unsatisfied life: selfishness, hatred, lust, unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, fear, drunkenness, sexual immorality, discord and malice, fits or rage, dishonesty, greed, gossiping, slander, pessimism and despair and self-pity... In other words, the more these negative qualities are a part of a person’s behavior, the further they are from obtaining this "abundant life" that Jesus came to give.
God can remove all of these negative characteristics from a person’s life. Every one of them! God is greater than our sins! Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 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."
So it’s no longer an excuse to say, "This is who I am… this is just the way I am… and I can’t change that…oh, yes you can. Part of the abundant life is being able to make right decisions and follow through on them. Now there is no doubt, many non-Christians can experience some happiness and satisfaction in their lives, but that is usually because they practice some of the qualities that make up the abundant life, such as patience, integrity, and kindness, and a certain morality, …and they also avoid many of the things that destroy the abundant life which I also mention-ed. However, Jesus said that unless we believe in him, we will die in our sins, and the only thing we have to look for-ward to is judgment. We must, therefore, realize that no matter how much happiness a non-Christian seems to experience, it is unfortunately limited in quality and it’s only temporary. You cannot be happy if you have no hope for the future. The facts are, anyone without the saving grace of Jesus, Christ in their life is spiritually dead. A person cannot live the "abundant life" if they are spiritually dead.
Many assume the abundant life depends on circumstances, or fate or luck, or their bank account, or their status in life, or their health…and, no doubt, these things are highly valued in our lives, but wealth, power, status, worldly pleasure, and even health issues have nothing to do with living the abundant life Jesus came to give.
As we learn to see what life is all about, we will begin to see all around us many people who are successfully living this "life to the full" inspite of circumstances. These people quietly go about their lives filled with meaning and hope, happiness, satisfaction and vitality, and peace of mind. They enjoy quality friendships, have good, loving, family relationships, and a strong faith in God. Their life becomes an adventure worth living. They do not allow trivial or non-essential matters to control their thoughts and their life! Life is too short to waste time complaining, or arguing, or worrying about such things.
However, let me tell you what the abundant life is not.
1. 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, and strengthens, and matures us.
There is a beautiful picture of abundance in the Old Testament story of Israel coming out of Egypt and into Canaan….
God delivered them from bondage and tried to give them great abundance, but they were afraid of what it would cost them to get it. When they saw the giants in the land they decided that the whole journey had been some cruel trick, and it cost them abundant life. But, you see, Canaan does not represent heaven. I don’t care how much we sing about crossing the Jordan, it was not heaven on the other side. Canaan is a picture of abundant life, but those who went over the Jordan River with Joshua fought for every inch of that land. Did God want to give it to them? Was it a land of milk and honey? You bet it was – but trusting in God they
had to fight for every inch of it.
Don’t expect the abundant life to come easy. There are going to be giants in the way: obstacles of some sort, but God desires for us to have the abundant life that Jesus came to give, and He will help us all along the way, if we let him.
2. I have already mentioned once but it bears repeating; It is not dependent on outside circumstances. It’s not what happens to you in this life that is nearly as important as how you respond to it.
3. It is not glamorous, flashy or outwardly impressive. Fame or Fortune and million dollar homes and $500 suits are not where it is found. 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 more EFFORT to find it.
“I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY”. A few years from now, Lord willing, you are going to be a few years older. Either you will be a few years older and enjoying the abundant life, or you will be a few years older and still not get it…
In John 10:10, Jesus uses the Greek word “perissos” (pronounced per-is-sos’). In this context, it means ‘superior in quantity or quality’ ‘exceedingly more’ or ‘very high’ or a “great advantage’ and ‘beyond measure’. This is the exact same word that Paul uses in Ephesians 3:20 that you hear at the close of services…“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly “perissos” beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” The abundant life is about a quality of life far exceeding what most people settle for… And it’s available because Jesus came to make it available. But it takes EFFORT on our part to discover what it really is for each one of us.
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