Scriptural Reference:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come
that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
"However,
as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and
what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those
who love him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
"And my God
will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in
Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
Reflection:
An abundant life is something we all aspire to achieve. Bt what is the
substance of such a life. To begin we will need to look at what many
sources will tell us. There are plenty of voices to point towards what
they each believe is the most important aspects of a life that is fulfilled
and abundantly beautiful Here are some of them.
Social Media
Influence's: One of the regular phrases used is achieving an "abundance
mindset". This social mantra aims at teaching people to see the
goal and achieve the goal. A search of current media influence's will
highlight the many aspects of fan based manipulation. Videos that set
the stage for what the audience is expected to accept as normal. In
one case I remember a Byonce video that was outrageously raunchy and
sexualised. Someone had posted that their little girl was captivated
by the video and just loved dancing with Beyonce to the music. When
I questioned the morality of letting a child emulate an adult dancing
in such a sexualised way I was quickly attacked. It would seem if someone
follows a media influencer online they will automatically endorse what
ever they say and do. Essentially media influencer's will seek to sell
the concept that an abundant life is found through their mantra's or
mental regimes.
Celebrities:
People look up to celebrities. They enjoy emulating the life styles
and personal choices they make. While celebrities seek to create a brand
for their name. Creating an image that they want others to emulate.
This image takes into a range of lifestyle choices and fashion styles.
As mentioned above, my experience with questioning a celebrities actions
online has had difficult results. Just think back to when Brittany Spears
was promoting virginity and claiming to be a virgin. Later she was outted
as having lost her virginity while still claiming to be one. Strange
how things have changed so much since than. She is now held up as being
a victim and a role model of young girls everywhere. Celebrities these
days seem to believe they are also political and social conscious gurus.
They will sell their personal opinions as a way for people to find an
abundant and fulfilling life.
Politicians/Government:
Many governments and political agencies try to shape social and public
constructs. They do these things as to be able to either encourage independence
or compliance. Over history the more dictatorial or socialistic a government
is the more it will attempt to indoctrinate people to follow a prescribed
agenda. During the take over by the Bolshevik party in Russia the party
deliberately starved many Christians. Taunting them to pray for food
or die. When they were at their lowest and weakest the government went
in and gave them food. Reassuring them that they food was from the communist
party and not God. This is nothing more than a form of Stockholm syndrome.
Governments and political groups tend to see society as an extension
of their agendas. Not so much selling the dream but trying to isolate
any who does not agree with it.
Family/Friends:
Family and friends will have grown up with us while creating a preconceived
image of what they believe we should be. Personally I know how this
can happen. I had purchased an English bucket hat that I believed was
suited to me. Sadly my Mother decided that the hat didn't suit me. She
was able to convince others in the family that the hat didn't suit me.
So I ended up unable to wear it without ridicule. It would seem the
more someone gets to know us the more they will want to keep us in an
agreeable pigeon hole or mental image that they find most pleasing.
This will make it painfully difficult for us to ever seek change. Family
and friends can be some of the harshest judges of personal changes.
Sadly the 'you' that they have come to accept is not acceptable to change
beyond what they are comfortable with.
Society:
Peer pressure is nothing new. We live in a pressure cooker of peer pressure
that aims to force us to conform to accepted social norms. The creation
of social norms is made through a range of events and conditions. Society
moves somewhat like the ocean. A small swell of local activities and
activism soon builds up into a small wave. Later as it moves and gains
momentum it becomes a tsunami. Anyone who might try and go against the
tide will find themselves either crushed or pushed along. Society is
a strange ectoplasmic entity. It seeks to shape and forge people to
flow with the majority over the individual. Drowning any who may choose
to swim against the tide.
The Bible:
The Bible has many positive words of encouragement for those who truly
want to embrace an abundant life. Many verses teach of developing a
gentle spirit as you go through your life's journey. The beginning of
John 10:10 tells us that Jesus did not come to us as a thief who takes
away from us, but to give us an abundant life. Jesus reminds us that
it is not “things” that we need. And what do we need? We each have core
values that need to be met. We need to be accepted. We need to be loved.
We need to feel like we belong. All these things are made clear and
apparent in the Bible. We don't need to repeat some mantra over and
over. Nor do we need to submit ourselves to a trendy diet or exercise
routine. No media influencer or celebrity can show us what we need to
do to create an abundant life. Not will any government or political
entity be able to force us to adjust to their given agenda to make life
feel sustainable and abundant. It will only be through reading and studying
the Bible that we will find the keys to such a desired life. Jesus the
Christ tells us clearly and plainly that he has "come
that [we] may have life, and have it to the full". A blessed promise
that we can each take to heart.
What is an abundant
life? It is a life lived in full with our Lord and Saviour Jesus the
Christ.
Prayer:
Jesus,
my Lord,
Thank you for my life.
Even in times of trouble,
I will trust in you.
Even in times of joy,
I will trust in you.
Even when life seems dark,
I will trust in you.
In you and you alone,
I find an abundance of life.
Amen