3 Reasons Why Every Church Should Wrestle with Abundant Living (#1)

Posted by Timothy

August 1, 2009

What do I mean by wrestling with “abundant living”? I mean in their messages and interactions reach down and have an open, active dialogue with their members on what abundant living means.

It means understanding in small discussions, polls, open forums how do people define abundance in their lives, what they do or don’t do to strive for it, and what does the Bible say?

Is this a conversation about money? Yes, in large part it is, but not in its entirety. It is about the whole package and examines Jesus’ words that he comes so that we may have life and have it abundantly (or richly).

So here are three reasons why, starting with today’s post for reason #1:

Reason #1: Because people are having this dialogue whether the church engages them or not

Okay, maybe you could say the subject of abundance is a secular discussion and not worthy of the church to get involved.

But the rest of the world is engaging in it, and it is taking up the bulk of the conversation. It could be as crass as advertisements or it could be loose conversations at work or self-help books.

“Abundance” in the secular world looks like the ful attainment in career, material wealth, relationships, learning, exploration — the living of a “full life.” And the world has its own set of enticing definitions.

So what does the Bible say about both how to attain abundant living and what is the actual definition?

It says quite a bit, I think. Sure, the word “abundant” or “abundance” itself it not used that much, but as a document which looks at human fears of scarcity and desires for prosperity, it has much to say. And much of it is counter-cultural.

That’s why it’s so important.

I take my primitive stab at the conversation through a work-in-progress by speaking into the format and language of abundance with my seven-day course. You can sign up for free by clicking on:

www.theKingWithin.com/wordpress/7days

Next post: the second reason why Churches should wrestle with abundance

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