Is the abundant life which Jesus promises one of material blessing and
prosperity?
Jesus who promises an abundant life * (John 10:10) also warns against
greed, citing that “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of
his possessions" (Luke 12:15).
So is abundance a desirable
goal or not? The above statement seems like a paradox.
But the abundant life
Jesus promises in John 10:10 is that which is filled with meaning, purpose and fulfillment:
“Jesus claims that he
came that men might have life and might have it more abundantly. The Greek
phrase used for having it more abundantly means to have a superabundance of a
thing. To be a follower of Jesus, to know who he is and what he means, is to
have a superabundance of life. When we try to live our own lives, life is a
dull, dispirited thing. When we walk with Jesus, there comes a new vitality, a
superabundance of life. It is only when we live with Christ that life becomes
really worth living and we begin to live in the real sense of the word.” (Excerpt
from Barclay's Daily Study Bible).
Now please do not
misunderstand. God is not niggardly. He wants to abundantly bless His children –
and often materially as well (Psalms 103:1-5). But we cannot arm-twist God and
insist that He blesses us materially. We should not treat Him like the genie of
Aladdin’s lamp for He is not our servant but the sovereign Almighty.
If He so chooses to
financially bless us in abundance, that is an added bonus. In other words, God
does not promise that we will live in mansions or be driven around in limousines
(Habakkuk 3:17-18, Hebrews 11:36-38).
If foxes have holes
but Jesus has nowhere to lay His head, if Jesus chose to ride on a colt into
Jerusalem, how can believers claim that it is their inalienable right to live in mansions
and be driven around in limousines?
Now it is not wrong to
possess riches. The danger is that riches consume – and possess us – instead.
Wealth is like a
two-edged sword. With great wealth comes great responsibility. How many people
can handle great wealth? Many get mesmerised by the gifts rather than the
Giver.
Joseph, who became the
Prime Minister of Egypt, could handle great wealth for he did not succumb to
greed, pride or sexual immorality. But how many modern-day Josephs are there?
That’s why the Psalmist
enjoins us, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them”
(Psalm 62:10). It’s so easy to be bedazzled by the gleam of riches that we lose
our upward focus.
Paul also exhorted the
rich “not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so
uncertain, but to put their hope in God … to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).
The best panacea
against pride and hoarding, the twin dangers of wealth, is to be channel of
blessing. We are blessed that we might be a blessing.
The focus of the
Christian life is not what we can get in terms of material prosperity.
The cross, instead, should be central in
the life of a believer.
Jesus challenged
those who want to be His disciples: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and
follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
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* “The thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly” (John 10:10).
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