Abundance

<<plenty>>

“The Lord will delight in you and make you most prosperous if you obey” (Deut 30:8-20). We choose if this will happen. It should not be the norm for obedient Christians to live a hand to mouth existence. Instead, we should have enough for our needs, plus something over to share – the expression of abundance is giving.

A person with not many of this world’s possessions but with Jesus has more than a rich man without Christ. Having plenty of things does not necessarily indicate the Lord’s favour. “A person’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions” with any ‘abundance’ we have is not to be stored up for ourselves but to be used to serve God and bless others (Lk 12:15-21, 18:22,23; 2 Cor 8:14, 9:10-13). The rich are instructed not to trust in their wealth, but to trust God and minister His love to those in need, and so lay-up treasure for eternity (Mt 6:19,20; 1 Tim 6:17-19). Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart is” (Lk 12:34).

It is God who gives you the power to get wealth, it’s all His anyway (Deut 8:18; 1 Chr 29:16).

Through our inheritance in Christ we have received “God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness” (Jn 1:16, 10:10: Rom 5:17; 2 Pet 1:2,3).

God is able to do immeasurably more than we ask (Eph 3:20). If we live according to His principles “He will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Mal 3:10).

Out of the overflow of a person’s heart they will speak – good or evil for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Lk 6:45). If we use wisely what we have been given or entrusted with we will have an abundance, but squander it and even that will be taken away (Mt 13:12, 25:14-29). By being outward focused, using what you already have, you will be enriched with more; conversely, if you are stingy you

Do I sow generously or am I tight fisted?

will reap a meagre result in return. “Give and it will be given to you in the same measure you have used” (Lk 6:38; 2 Cor 9:6). “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor” (Prov 22:9, 28:27; Gal 6:7,9). This is not necessarily having more to give; it’s giving more of what you already have. Hording tends to poverty, giving tends to abundance (Prov 11:24). Give and it will be given unto you (Lk 6:38). This blesses the one receiving, it is a witness for the Lord and we will gain friends (Lk 16:9).