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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Rich (04/26/12)
The Relationship between Abundance and Wealth

Jesus came to assist believers to live an abundant life (John 10:10), and he would like to do that through his replacement, The Holy Spirit (John 14:16). The problem is: people confuse abundance with riches.

We live in a “cause and effect” world, and wealth is an effect; a man-made effect; and it is easier for believers to associate the term abundance with money and houses and vacations and automobiles than it is for them to see the big picture as Jesus did. To Jesus, abundance was a metaphor for the freedom, security, good health, acute awareness and other similar type gifts the Holy Spirit makes available to believers. Abundance is also an effect, but abundance is not man made. The cause is the Holy Spirit. Abundance is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and it is far more important to the well-being of an individual believer than anything money can buy.

Believers have difficulty accepting the concept of abundance, because modern day believers don’t believe in miracles. They believe the bible, and they believe the miracle stories in the bible are true, but they can’t get themselves to accept the concept that the Spirit of the Living God is active in today’s world, and that the Spirit is available to assist believers. The Religion of Jesus has become just another competitive religion. It seeks the minds of human beings and attempts to impose its moral standard on the world as do all other religions, but the supernatural power to change things for all practical purposes no longer exists; which is such a pity, because the supernatural was what Jesus was about. He was born in a supernatural manner; he turned water into wine, restored sight to the blind, walked on water, gave life to some who dead, stilled a raging storm and as a fitting conclusion to an amazing life, he rose above the crucifixion and walked away from the tomb. Then some fifty days later at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit made the statement that he would be available to provide for believers freedom, good health, security, acute awareness and many other wonderful attributes wherever they go or whatever they do in this world and throughout eternity.

Believers who allow the Holy Spirit to provide for them the abundant life definitely have a competitive advantage, which could well lead to the accumulation of wealth. Most people, however, including believers, who obtain great wealth don’t use the abundance provided by the Holy Spirit, they reach their level of success with their own business skills, aptitude and financial awareness. Today’s version of the Religion of Jesus is for most people irrelevant.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 761 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Marina Rojas
05/03/12
Wow! What a great read! This is a really good lesson on the abundant life vs. earthly riches difference.

I appreciate that it is written in down to earth language with an overtone of true kindness towards the reader.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/03/12
This is a well written devotion. You make some great points. It is so true that the world we live in is so different. Instant gratification is around every corner with smart phones and the internet.I liked how you told what abundance meant to Jesus. It made me stop and think.
C D Swanson 
05/05/12
Any entry about Jesus gets my attention, and this one did just that. I loved the entire piece. Good job, and a fitting devotional for our King of kings.

Thanks. God Bless~
Genia Gilbert
05/07/12
Abundance indeed. I thank you for reminding me of all I have in Christ. We need fresh heavenly viewpoints repeated to us again and again. Thanks for doing that.
Hiram Claudio
05/07/12
What a great lesson! I loved the contrast drew between abundance and wealth. So much truth here and so well presented and crafted. Nice writing. Thank you!
Leola Ogle
05/09/12
A great devotional and a good reminder for all of us. Well written. God bless!
Edmond Ng
05/10/12
A nicely written sermonette. Thank you for sharing this. God bless.