The Theology of Abundance
THE THEOLOGY OF ABUNDANCE
I’ve been disturbed, as I’ve traveled around the body of Christ, by what I call “the theology of lack.” This “theology” or belief and interaction with God affects prayer, the way we face temptation, and life in general. It is a belief that I, as a believer in Christ, don’t have some crucial things in my life. I lack. The way it shows up in our prayers is by what we are asking for as we pray. The way it shows up in facing temptations is what we believe we have available to us (or not) as weaponry in the fight. The way if affects our way of life can be exhibited in walking around sorrowing instead of rejoicing . . . even walking around grumbling because I don’t have what I believe I need.
Our Father tells us something different. He lets us know how much He has given us. Note 2 Peter 1:2 and 3 -
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
NOTE: He has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. EVERYTHING!
Everything means He has left out nothing. We do not lack, my fellow believers! When I grabbed hold of this truth a number of years ago it changed my prayer life. My prayers are not dominated now by asking for things I don’t believe I have. Instead, I ask the Lord for the grace to resource and use what He has already given me. Some of those things are mentioned in the following verses in 2 Peter - verses 4 and 5
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
He has given us “precious (very, very valuable) and magnificent (how do you describe ‘Magnificent’?) promises” that we might become partakers of the divine nature. WOW! Are you getting this? We can participate in His divine nature based upon the promises God has made to us. You are a supernatural person meant to accomplish supernatural things! And, in addition, this takes place in a new “corruption-free” environment. We no longer have to give in to the “lusts,” the desires of this world because of what we’ve been given. In verse 5, Peter, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says we are to “supply” certain dynamic characteristics to our faith. This assumes that we already have faith. And we do. Ephesians 2:8 and 9 states that it is “by grace through faith you have been saved and that is not of yourself but is a gift of God that you should not boast.” Our grace-faith salvation is a gift. It was given to you and me, probably just before we put that faith in Christ. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to believe. If you know Jesus, you have faith.
So, I’ll let you in on an astonishing secret: you don’t have to ask for more faith! You just need to exercise the faith you (and I) have already been given.
We’ve been given everything that pertains to the life He has called us to and to the godly lifestyle He intends for us. We don’t lack. We have an abundance.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20–21).
FALL COLORS
Fall colors have always amazed me. Here are the green trees most of the year, yet “hidden” inside those leaves are stunning displays of color! I’m sure I could get an argument from an arborist, but how I would like for trees to display their colors all year round. So often, we followers of Jesus are like those trees. We have “hidden” and “true” colors of His making. We are reds and oranges and yellows with captivating beauty. We are unique creations of our Lord who has designed us to display His beauty individually. In central Texas, where I now live, there aren’t as many deciduous trees (the kind that change color) as there are farther north. So color stands out more clearly among the green. Sometimes, again, that happens. The Lord calls upon us to display our colors - the richness of our relationship with Him - when those around us cannot or will not do so. Colors among the green - let them be displayed!