John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
As Jesus spoke, He was contrasting Himself with the devil, who He referred to as the thief.
He stated that the devil had come to steal, kill, and destroy, but He had come that we might have life abundantly.
But what exactly is the abundance Jesus was referring to?
Many people will immediately think of monetary wealth or material possessions.
This is a popular viewpoint among some believers and teachers since Jesus didn’t specify the type of abundance He was referring to as He spoke in this situation.
But if we were to look at the teachings of Jesus overall, viewing the bigger picture, we would see that He was not speaking at all about monetary or material abundance.
You see, Jesus spoke frequently about why He had come. Never did He state that He had come to make people wealthy or to help them store up an abundance of material goods.
For anyone to teach that this was His purpose would be terribly incorrect. It would, in fact, be bordering on heresy.
Jesus did speak many times throughout His ministry about riches, wealth, storing up treasures on earth, etc. But not once did He speak of these things in a positive light.
In fact, He stated that the possibility of a rich man entering heaven was as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.
Matthew 19:23-24 (NKJV)23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When His disciples questioned Him further, Jesus told them that with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible, clarifying that a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven is only possible if that man submits everything about his life to God, including his wealth.
To be clear, the abundance Jesus came to bring was not material wealth. It was spiritual wealth.
It is the redemption and salvation of mankind that He offers to all who will accept it.
It is the healing power that comes by way of faith in Him.
And it is the forgiveness of our sins by the washing of them in His blood, making us new creations in Him.
Any teaching that claims Christ died a cruel, terrible death on the cross for mankind to become wealthy is false and needs to be seen as such.
Turn away from such teachings and embrace the true gospel that states we must take up our cross and deny ourselves.
Luke 9:23 (NKJV) 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
And let us find true treasure in our relationship with the one, true God.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
401-439-3780
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