When you think of abundance what comes to mind? A refrigerator overflowing with food ready to eat? Two cars in the garage? One car? A home? 3-6 months expenses in your bank account? Retirement ready 401k's? an extra $100 at the end of the month or maybe even just enough to pay for your expenses and food?
I mean our God is a God of abundance, right? So, we deserve the house, the walk-in closet, the island in the kitchen, 2.5 kids, a family that surrounds and supports you, a well-paying job, a pay increase annually, advancement in your career. Don't get me wrong, none of these things are bad, I mean God wants to not only supply our needs but our wants.
I'd like to challenge the thinking about abundance, how we view it, how we utilize it, how we see it. We have friends in India, abundance there looks a world of difference than it does here. I think we are so used to life here, our day to day that we often forget, that even in our struggle, we are living abundance. I know hunger is a real thing here, I know that many among us aren't sure where they will find the money to pay for their electricity, mortgage/rent, let alone feed their families. I also know that we get to choose if we will eat meat or be vegan, we can choose not to eat gluten, we can choose.
What if abundance is merely having choice? What if abundance is having freedom to worship? what if abundance is having the freedom to speak?
Most of us know that its privilege to be born and raised here. The freedoms we have here are rare and we certainly don't deserve it, its a gift that's been given, just like abundance. I know I haven't sacrificed to be able to go to church and worship God, let alone be able to publically share online my views about God.
I challenge you to look at your life, to see the areas God has blessed abundantly, and ask how He wants us to abundantly bless others. The biggest blessings we have here can quickly become the biggest stumbling block or distractions. The minute we put the blessings before the one who abundantly blessed we've lost focus.
How many times have you sat in church, in a small group, a coffee shop, Sunday school class and heard the name of Jesus?
2.8 million people have never heard His name.
2.8 million people don’t know that they have access to Jesus
2.8 million people don't have access to a single verse in their language
- how many bibles do you have in your home? how many translations are on your phone?
Maybe this is an area of abundance?
I know God is calling us to so much more than to become comfortable in our abundance. I know that God is wanting American Evangelicals to learn from those who give their lives to serve God, who count it all joy when they face trials of many kinds. To love one another enough to share Jesus with everyone. We are blessed here in ways we forget to count. I pray that God stirs our hearts, opens our eyes, calls us out of comfortable, that we are bold enough to follow, to push back the fear of rejection, the fear of leaving comfort and seek his will. Look for ways to share him with others. To support those going to serve the least among us.
There are people all around you seeking... May we each be open. May God open doors, open hearts to an abundance that's much greater, than the earthly things. They pass away any way. I'm praying that God change us, shake us, and help us leave our abundance in his hands and utilize it the way He is calling us to! It is always worth the cost.
