‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’
There are few other places where the ministry and mission of Jesus is stated so clearly. Not just to have life, not just survival, not just existence – but to have life in abundance, to have flourishing, thriving, joy. But what is abundant life?
Let me be clear that this is not an argument for the prosperity gospel, which claims that God promises you great wealth and an easy life just because you happen to believe in Jesus. (That kind of theology is either a terrible misunderstanding or a deliberate abuse of scripture).
So, how would you define an abundant life?
- Maybe a certain career?
- Accomplishments?
- A large house?
- Money?
- Family?
- Being happy?
- Being able to travel?
I don’t think those contemporary criteria are what John’s gospel suggests. And the meaning of an abundant life is a critical question for our time – a time when even the basics of life are denied to many.
Abundant life isn’t simply a promise about some distant eternal future, but is a concrete invitation to discover life right now by extending it to those around us... as we commit ourselves to the wellbeing of all God’s children and, indeed, the world God loves so much.
And that’s led me to do a lot of praying and wondering about how we support those who are the weakest among us, those are the margins of our society. So, some questions for us all to ponder:
What opportunities is God presenting to us right now? What is breaking open in you? What are you learning? How is our understanding of God changing? As a church, what is important to us? What might we want to change? How are we part of God’s redemptive activity in the world here in Ashbourne and the surrounding villages?
Dwayne