Abundant Life

by Corey Bjertness

In John 10:10, Jesus says,

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

In hearing this, most of us would say, “I need to get some of that abundant life. I ain’t sure what it is, but it sounds deliciously good.” Abundance! I like the sounds of that word. Abundance! Bigger is better! More means more fun. More means more toys and joys. Things, that’s what I want more of, things. I want more, more, more. The answer to my problem is more money, more food, more (pause) well you get the picture! Abundance, boy, I like the sound of that.

Oops! Sorry to have to tell you this! Jesus couldn’t have meant more things, more prestige, more possessions, and more power. Remember it was Jesus after all that said these words also,

Matt. 23:11 “The greatest among you will be your servant.”

Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?”

These passages of scripture don’t sound like more. They sound like less. So what in the world is the secret of ABUNDANT LIFE?

Here’s the secret of ABUNDANT LIFE. ABUNDANT LIFE is not something we possess. It is something that possesses us. You cannot obtain ABUNDANT LIFE. You have to join it. It is not a possession. It is a fraternity. It is the “fraternity of the faithful” carrying out God’s same task for us since the beginning. Jesus affirms this task in Luke 10:27. 

A lawyer asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Then Jesus said, “Do this, and you shall live.”

So if you want a life that is eternal and abundant, join the fraternity of the faithful. Plant yourself firmly between God and the world. This posture is what people have been doing for thousands of years. Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Christians are middle management. We carry out the will of the one who is above us and supply the needs of those around us.

And somehow, in this task, God performs a miracle. When we are focused on God’s will and other’s needs, a miracle happens. We find what Paul describes as the fruit of the spirit. We experience “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’ That sounds a lot like the ABUNDANT LIFE!

Pastor Corey

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