abundance

I’ve never been to Niagara Falls, but every person that I have spoken with that has seen the Falls has an extremely difficult time describing it. People typically use words like “powerful,” “overwhelming,” or “unbelievable” to describe the essence of the waterfall. Some things are just extremely difficult to express with our limited language. I firmly believe that trying to describe heavenly abundance is like trying to describe Niagara Falls. It just doesn’t make much sense, but it is absolutely powerful, overwhelming, and at times, unbelievable.

Greater than any tangible, earthly gift God could ever give us, the gifts of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are gifts that are to be obsessed over for eternity. If people are able to see the gifts of Christ and the Spirit with clarity, obsessing over these gifts is inevitable. Many of us only see God’s gift of Christ in partiality, and we can become bored of the abundant gift of Christ. However, when we think with the mind of Christ and live with the Spirit-Empowered Heart of God, we may perceive the gift of Jesus in totality, cultivating an obsession to worship the One that poured out his precious blood as an abundant gift. God is so generous.

God’s generosity, however, is never ending. If God never gave us another thing besides the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we would still be in a position of everlasting obsession. However, God, in His radical generosity God never stops giving gifts.

Abundance is often talked about in the context of hoping more good things would be added onto one’s life. Abundance is talked about as a substance that is to be added onto us. However, I believe once we see God for who He really is, we would view abundance as a person rather than a substance. God Himself is abundant, and His gifts are wholesome and perfect. When God gives us His Spirit, the person of abundance is always with us. He is the person who desires our whole heart. He is the person that so desperately wants to bless, encourage, train, prune, and embrace His children. God’s essence is abundant, because is essence is goodness. Abundance is more of a characteristic rather than a tangible substance. However, the tangible substances that God chooses to grant His children are always graced with abundant goodness. He gives His children abundant favor, which cannot be earned by human action. Favor is given and received, not obtained. We repeatedly do what we are inside, so favor always manifests in joyful obedience. The Son was favored before His obedience was complete, but the Father's affirmation empowered Him to finish His course. Christine Caine also points out that God’s abundant favor is always tied to the predestined person to every human being.

“If you are not believing and asking God for his favor because you’re comfortable in your life and you have all you need … You’re missing the point! God’s favor is always attached to his purpose! Our purpose is about making God famous! Our purpose is about bringing forth God to our generation! Our purpose is about making the name of God glorified in our city! Favor is attached to purpose.” - Christine Caine

Favor is attached to purpose. His abundant gift of favor is attached to what He desires to do in your heart. Do you want to receive more of His favor? RECEIVE HIM. He desires to pour out His favor in abundance, and He is searching for those that are open and surrendered to His will.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

I absolutely love this verse because it touches two fundamental topics when thinking about the abundance of God’s gifts. First, God’s desire to give abundantly is not for the purpose of hoarding riches on Earth. God makes it abundantly clear that having a lot of money isn’t all that great. In fact, money is just like manure – it does no good until you spread it. John Locke, a great British Philosopher of the 17th century, once said, “"Our incomes are like our shoes: If too small, they pinch and gall us, but if too large, they cause us to stumble and to trip." I think Jesus would agree with Locke’s conclusion.

I love 1 Timothy 6:17 for reasons other than financial as well. Personally, I often forget that God has a strong desire for His creation and His blessings to be enjoyed. His delight is to see His children take joy and fulfillment in the things of this world that honor Him and Him alone. God’s provision is abundant, and that abundance is to be enjoyed. The first step of enjoyment of His gifts is eternal gratitude. That gratitude will propel us to abundant life with Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 ESV

Jesus makes a claim in John 10 that defines His primary function. If Jesus gave us His primary function, it is probably very important that His children understand it thoroughly! Jesus wants to grant His children life, and not just any kind of life, but ABUNDANT LIFE. There are many people who have tried to apply the “abundant life” message to a lifestyle of luxury. Some have believed that Jesus was saying that life here on Earth will be an abundant celebration, with very little hardship or trial. However, Jesus was expressing something that illustrates the true fabric of reality. Jesus was saying that life with Him is a life of abundance, and life apart from Christ is death. Where Jesus is, there is an abundance of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The nature of Christ is abundance, and wherever He is, there is an abundance of goodness. When trouble strikes, Christ promises us His presence, and His presence is an abundance of peace and love. His presence is the treasure and the highest gift we may ever receive.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. – Psalm 23:5

I believe that as David wrote Psalm 23, he caught a glimpse of what the abundance of God truly looks like. The abundance of God is an internal overflowing of Himself. The abundance of God is a serendipitous windfall of His goodness placed in the heart of man, which cannot contain a fraction of His goodness. So, the cup overflows. David’s cup overflowed, not because He deserved the abundance of God, but because He was willing to receive Him. Do you want God to speak to you? Go to a quiet place in your home, close the door, sit down with Psalm 23 open in front of you. Read the chapter one verse at a time, and with every ounce of careful attention that you possess, allow the Psalm to paint the picture of God on your heart. I promise, if you receive the reality of God’s abundant goodness that is illustrated in Psalm 23, your cup will overflow.

Prayer:

Father, I pray that my eternal focus is relationship with you. You are my treasure. You are abundant life. You are everlasting joy and peace. I love you, God. Teach me how to see you for who you really are and teach me how to see the world the way you see the world. Help me carry and extend the abundant love that you carry and extend.

Questions:

1.     Does God’s presence satisfy you fully today?

2.     After reading Psalm 23. what words would you use to describe God’s nature?

3.     Is God convicting you in any area of your life that doesn’t reflect the abundant life of Christ? Will you allow Him to have His way in that area?