Gratitude – Day 5 – Abundance
Last night, in the process of looking for an item of clothing, I decided to clean out my chest of drawers. I struggle to find room for my clothing in my dresser and my closet. Everything is always packed full to overflowing. When I had finished taking out clothes that either no longer fit or that I don’t even like, four out of my five drawers were completely empty. Completely. Empty. Which means that time I spent looking for places to put my clothes was unnecessary. All that was needed was to get rid of the surplus.
I can’t explain why I keep so much more than I need. Throughout my life, I have always had everything that I needed, and most of the time, a great majority of the things I wanted. I have no reason to believe that I will ever go without the material items that I need to survive. In fact, I have no reason to believe that I will ever go without some of the things that I want. Yet, as my dresser proves, I am keeping far more than I need.
While the dresser story is extremely embarrassing, it did make me think. It reminded me of John 10:10 where Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
I have never seen that verse as a promise of material things, but rather a promise of leading a full life, doing the things I wanted to do, and being fulfilled as a person. After much study and prayer, I don’t believe that is what Jesus is promising either. We are told often in the Bible, and by Jesus Himself, that Christians will suffer in this world. Though God is always using the hard things for His glory and our good, there are still many hard things.
So, if Jesus didn’t die on a cross so I could drive a Lexus, live in a mansion, and have dressers full of clothes, and He didn’t come so that every part of my life would be easy and fulfilling, why did He come?
He came so that we could see that He is the abundance. He is the fullness of God. (Colossians 1:19) Knowing Jesus and loving Him is the most abundant, full life that exists.
Otherwise His words make no sense. There are so many people who love Jesus and serve Him that can hardly put together a meal. There are those who love and serve Him who sit in prison – with no worldly possessions and no earthly reason for joy. There are those who are beaten and killed for loving Him. If abundance means having all the stuff we think we want, or living life on our terms, how can Jesus claim fullness of life for every believer? He can claim that because He provides everything we need. Through Him we are given strength when we are weary, we have courage even when we are terrified, we have His peace, which surpasses all understanding, even as we walk through heartbreak, and we have hope when there seems no reason to have it, all because Jesus provides it.
There is nothing that can bring greater joy than when we are filled with His peace, His hope, and His love. These are the gifts that bring us abundant life. These are the gifts that fulfill us. Today, I am thankful that even if I had no clothes to put into my dresser, I am still living the abundant life.
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