Are
you living the Abundant Life? You may answer: “I’m enjoying life at this
moment. I have a great house, a car, a good wife, and wonderful kids. I have a
great career. I have money in the bank. I go vacations twice a year. Everything
is going fine with me. I am enjoying life. I am living the Abundant Life.”
But,
is the Abundant Life defined by what we are having now? Did God promise to make
us rich in this life? The Bible tells us that wealth, prestige, position, and
power in this world are not God's priorities for us. Our Lord says: “Take
heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Clearly, the
Lord teaches that striving to be rich has everything to do with covetousness
and not godliness. And, He clearly states that life is not about gaining wealth
and possessions.
The
Abundant Life is not about what we have. The man who works so hard to achieve
material success, do you think he is enjoying life? Yes, he has everything in
abundance but he does not have life. He is making a living when he should be
making a life. He has everything in this life. But, there is something still
lacking. And this was what Jesus told a rich young man who came to Him asking
for eternal life: “One thing thou lackest” (Mark 10:21).
What
was the one thing lacking in the rich young man? It is a right relationship
with God. Note Jesus’ statement to him: “take up the cross, and follow me”
(Mark 10:21).
The
abundant life that Jesus promised has nothing to do with wealth. It has
everything to do with being right with God through faith in Christ and having
the hope of eternal life as a result. The apostle Paul wasn’t rich in this
world’s goods, but he enjoyed the abundant life that Christ offers. He was
content with just food and covering (1 Timothy 6:8).
It
is a common misconception among non-Christians that the Christian life is
simply boring. They think going to church and reading the bible are simply
boring. We have been ridiculed because we preach against drinking, dancing,
gambling, parties (not children’s birthday parties of course), pre-marital sex,
immodest dressing, and etc. They ask: “What do you folks do for recreation?”
They think Christians are crazy.
The
truth is, we exercise self-control because we treasure our bodies. We do not
want our bodies to be destroyed by wine and drugs. Our Christian ladies respect
their bodies and so they dress modestly. (1 Timothy 2:9). Certainly, the
Christian life is full of responsibility and self-restraint, but the rewards
and blessings that accrue over a lifetime of pleasing God and living His way of
life are simply overwhelming.
The
greatest life to live is a life that is walking with God. The Abundant Life
that Jesus speaks of is not a long life on this earth, or a life that is filled
with material blessings. The artist who sculpted a beautiful angel thought it
was an excellent piece of work; but it lacked life. And sad to say, many in
this world are going about just making a living and lacking life.
Christ
promises us a life far better than we could ever imagine. It is not a life free
from work, or free from sickness or death. It is a life of trusting faith
knowing we have a God who can do all things so that we can have peace in the
midst of afflictions and joy when we suffer: “For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).
Paul
suffered many things for Jesus. He had a thorn in the flesh that was
unbearable. Yet, he had peace and joy (Philippians 4:4). How could it be? The
answer is found in his relationship with Christ Jesus. Paul found his life
sufficiency in Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The
world says we do not know how to enjoy life. But, we are enjoying life, it is
sin we will not indulge in. We have the abundant life here, and we will
continue to have the Abundant Life when we meet God.
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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