Living in Abundance: Stop Competing with Others
If you were to ask anyone to define “abundance”, you would get a multitude of answers. A CEO of a major corporation will list a $55 million salary, stock options, and a secured retirement. A fast-food worker might define abundance as a $3.00 raise and owning their own home. In the same manner, a retired couple may define abundance as a paid mortgage and money to travel.
Abundance becomes a moving target when you define prosperity as outward wealth and accumulation. No amount of wealth, accrual, or asset building will ever make you feel abundant. Once you define abundance based on outward wealth; the target moves farther away. This approach to abundance sets you up to be envious and jealous of others…resulting in comparison and competition.
A major problem in western culture is its definition of abundance is based on advertising, marketing, and social status. From this perspective, abundance becomes demarcated by outward appearances of wealth, accumulation, and possessions. Modern media brainwashes us into exchanging outward appearances for the deeper meaning of abundance and prosperity.
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When you stop defining abundance based upon outward wealth, you realize that wealth and possessions are a poor substitute for true abundance. Abundance is a state of being, not possession. Two key factors define true abundance. The first factor is God meeting your current, immediate needs. The second factor is the opportunity and freedom to choose a life that brings happiness, fulfillment, and personal growth.
In the spirit of comparison and competition, media and advertising have substituted the simplicity of true abundance with a lie. You are told, “If you have the right career, the right car, and live in the right neighborhood, then you can be abundant and happy.” The problem with basing your definition on outward wealth is it becomes impossible to satisfy your ever-expanding desires.
Abundance: The Parable of the Rich Fool
Jesus knew outward possessions poorly defined abundance. In Luke 12:13-21 (WEB) a man approaches Jesus from the crowd demanding, “Tell my brother to divide our inheritance with me.” We know little about this man. Maybe he felt slighted; or the situation was unjust. Yet, Jesus’s response shows there was something deeper afoot in the man’s soul. A spiritual envy, a competitive spirit with his brother. Seeing deeper into the man’s motivation, Jesus replied, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15, WEB).
It is human to see the blessings given upon others and assume they have a greater level of abundance. In the western world, we have made purchasing power the equivalent of freedom. We have made outward wealth the defining sign of abundance. Jesus knew each of us would fall prey to this fallacy.
Abundance is a state of being, not possession.
In response, Jesus told the parable of the rich farmer. Jesus describes a wealthy man whose farm was so abundant; he didn’t have the silo space to store crops. As a result, the farmer tore down his current barns and built even bigger ones to store the overflowing harvest. This seemed prudent. God blessed the farmer, and He developed a plan to manage and store the excess. So, what is the problem?
The problem was not the farmer's actions, but his motivation. He surmised, “I will tell my soul 'You have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry' (Luke 12:19, WEB). The farmer exchanged his dependence on God and placed his trust in outward wealth. He defined his identity by his wealth and riches.
That night, the farmer died. The foolish trust he placed in outward wealth no longer served him. They redistributed his possessions to his heirs and sold off. The issue was not the farmer’s actions, but his attitude towards abundance. The lesson was not the piety of poverty, nor the ruthlessness of riches. It was to place our eternal trust in God as sustenance and supply.
Jesus: Living in Spiritual Abundance:
Jesus was not the enemy of wealth. In fact, many of Jesus’s followers were likely wealthy and funded his ministry. Instead, Jesus was more concerned with how we define abundance at a soul level. He taught his followers, “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33, WEB).
Jesus lived a life of chosen financial obscurity. Make no mistake, Jesus was not poor. He used money to fund his work and ministry. Jesus and the disciples required daily meals, clothing, as well as miscellaneous expenses because of their work. In fact, Judas was the appointed treasurer for the ministry. Despite using money as a tool, Jesus didn’t seem to care about accumulating wealth. Jesus owned no land, he carried no money, and he had no personal residence. Yet, his instruction was, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear” (Luke 12:22, WEB). Christ wasn’t concerned about money, because Jesus rooted his trust and identity in the kingdom of God.
The lesson was not the piety of poverty, nor the ruthlessness of riches. It was to place our eternal trust in God as sustenance and supply.
By defining abundance in the kingdom of God, Jesus steered his followers away from using material wealth as a basis for security. Instead, Jesus discouraged defining security by outward appearances. He encouraged his followers to find their personal and spiritual security in the supply and sustenance of God. When you define abundance from this perspective, it leads to freedom. You are no longer bound by the chasing of worldly goods to feel safe. Your security and well-being are based on God. When you focus on God as your source and sustenance, only then will you trust God to meet your daily physical needs.
Recognizing When You Step Out of Spiritual Abundance:
Abundance found in spiritual sustenance is true prosperity. Instead of defining abundance through material wealth, true abundance is a state of being. It is freedom to pursue a life of your choosing; to choose the life God has called you to. Jesus was very clear. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:4, WEB).
How do you tell if you are living in true abundance versus placing your trust in material wealth? The answer is fear. Individuals placing their trust in material wealth will always fear loss. If God is your source and supply; loss is impossible. God provides from divine sustenance. Even in the darkest of times, God provides ideas and strategies that can supply your every need.
To escape fear, stop placing your faith in the current system of accumulation. Instead, you must believe in God’s abundant supply. There will be financial downturns, market collapses, and diminishing economies. Yet, in the kingdom of God, the state of abundance is ever unfolding.
How would you live differently if you focused on the kingdom of God and not fear? How would you decide life choices differently? What new opportunities would you pursue? What life would you be living if money were no object? When dependent on divine sustenance as your supply; money, is indeed no object. God is your source, your supply, your all.
Conclusion:
When you live in God, as your source and supply, there is no loss. Divine provision is continual and renewing. When you prioritize the kingdom of God; you live differently. Fear and limitation will no longer affect your decisions, life choices, and purpose. Instead, the knowledge of God's abundant and unending supply guides your decisions. This is a brave new life! You no longer worry about your day-to-day needs. Instead, you focus on a life of service to God and others.
Freedom from fear releases you from competition with others. You no longer define your abundance in material wealth. Instead, you identify as an heir to the kingdom of God. “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory” (Philippians 4:9, WEB). You will no longer be concerned about your daily needs. Instead, you grow in confidence of God’s provision; free to live in true abundance!
Written by: Heath B. Walters, Ph.D.
Copyright © December 08, 2023, by Heath B. Walters, DBA Spiritual Life Resources, All Rights Reserved.
Reference
Word English Bible (2022). Web Online.https://ebible.org/study/.
