A Life that Looks Like Jesus:
Prosperity or Abundance?
John 10:1-10
Jim Zazzera, Faith Presbyterian Church, 1.18.2009
I am told there is a Filipino New Year’s Eve tradition in which people gather coins, put them in a
casserole or a metal tin, and shake them at midnight of December 31st. This custom is said to
bring good luck and prosperity.
I have some (non-Filipino) friends who have taken this a step further. They have decided that if
it is a good thing to shake coins at midnight, it will be a really good thing to shake and celebrate
with larger denominations. So every New Years Eve, my friends withdraw a large sum of money
from the bank, and on a windy Florida beach, they celebrate, make noise, and shake fistfuls of
$100 bills at midnight! I am not sure how much prosperity these actions have brought them,
But you’ve got to love the attempt!
The yearning for prosperity is nothing new in our world. The acquisition of money and
possessions is done through both honest and corrupt means. From Bernie Madoff to Warren
Buffet to The Secret to the California Lottery to Microsoft—we have endless examples of how
to create wealth.
The church itself is not immune to this. A particular line from today’s reading, “I come that they
may have life, and have it abundantly,”1 has been an inspiration for what some in the Christian
world have called the “Prosperity Gospel.”2
A belief system that sounds like it makes sense at first, it is sometimes described in this way:
“God doesn’t want anyone to be poor.”3 Who could argue with that? Certainly God wants good
things for all people, and ancient Hebrew prophets down through Jesus and the apostle Paul
have challenged us to seek the physical well being of all.
But the “Prosperity Gospel” looks at life differently. It is the view that only truly faithful
people prosper. It is a perspective that seeks individual wealth. As follower of this outlook put
it, “I’m dreaming big—because all of heaven is dreaming big.”4
Prospering in this belief system means job promotions, six figure salaries, and plenty of real
estate for all. Some of the teachings of the “Prosperity Gospel” emphasize one or more of these
ideas: 1) God wants to bless you with health and wealth; 2) Health and wealth are a sign of
God's favor; and (don’t miss this one) Having the right thoughts and professing the right beliefs
are the keys to receiving God's blessings. In other words, “you gotta believe it to receive it.”5
1
John 10:10, NRSV
See people like Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar, etc.
3
Deborah Potter, reporter for Religion and News Weekly,
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week1051/feature.html
4
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html
5
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2007/08/Optimism-Is-Depressing.aspx
2
One well known preacher talks about “Living Your Best Life Now,” with your , “business taking
off…your marriage restored…your family prospering…[and] your dreams coming to pass.”6
There is just enough truth in all of this point of view that it is hard to shake. God does care about
our life. In this world and the next. Yet fundamentally, God is not about “prosperity” in the way
our world (and a number of prominent ministers) have defined it. Jesus himself said, “Those who
find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”7 If what we see in
Jesus’ words today is earthly prosperity, we have missed something.
So what then, does Jesus mean by the “abundant life” he talks about in this passage? What is this
Bible passage about? It is actually a story with a bushel of metaphors. Jesus’ words here can be
overwhelming and confusing. If you are a person who is only comfortable with precise
definitions, facts and figures this is definitely not the Bible text for you!
But I want to invite us to notice a few things. Notice first the characters in this story. On the one
hand there are the bad guys; thieves, bandits, strangers —ready to do their damage –to steal, to
lead astray, to destroy, and to kill. On the other hand there is the good guy: referred to as the
“shepherd” or the “gate.” And then finally (seemingly caught in the middle) we’ve got the sheep.
Next notice then the historical setting. This story, or collection, or allegory that Jesus offers is
given in the wake of major conflict he is involved in with the religious leaders of his time. Chapter
8 shows Jesus about to be stoned by local religious leaders. Chapter 9 portrays him directly
accusing the Pharisees of blindness and not helping the people they say they serve. Here in
Chapter 10 itself Jesus continues to speak to those who oppose his work and message.
Now notice where the promise of abundance comes. Right between Jesus description of the
problems with thieves, robber, and strangers (our passage)—and Jesus’ extended description of
the “good shepherd” in verses 11-18. This promise is right in the center of the conflict, as if to
suggest that this is the key, the solution.
So what do we make of all this? What is going on here? What Jesus seems to be doing is setting
the good shepherd (himself) against those who offer anything less than life. In Jesus days those
enemies were corrupt religious leaders, or perhaps those who did not understand and so opposed
Jesus ministry. Whoever it is – Jesus here challenges those who do not offer the life promised in
him. The sheep are people caught between the “good shepherd” and those who offer a poor
facsimile of “abundant life.” Jesus has a clear picture of those who stand in opposition to what
he teaches and offers.
So what is this experience called abundant life? And how is it the key to the questions posed
here? If it is not primarily earthly prosperity, what is it? The word translated “abundance” here
is not specific, but seems to mean something like “excess’ or “that which goes over the amount.”8
Whatever it is, Jesus is promising plenty of it.
6
Reference to the introduction to Joel Osteen’s program,
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533448,00.html
7
Matthew 10:39, NRSV
8
http://warc.ch/24gc/rw024/01.html
The clue to its full meaning comes in the text itself. In some way it appears that abundant life
refers to the characteristics of the relationship between the shepherd/gate and the sheep. Three
things stand out as describing this relationship.
First, the shepherd is the only one whose voice the sheep hear and respond to. And Jesus is that
shepherd. There is an intimacy with his followers that no one else can replicate. The sheep do
not know the voice of others, the strangers. They respond only to Jesus.
Second, the shepherd knows the name of the sheep. Whose names do you know in your life?
Most often, it is the names of those we love. Those then, who follow Jesus are loved and known
by him. Just as we know the names of those we love and care for, in Christ Jesus—God shows
steadfast love for each one of us.
Thirdly, as a “shepherd” Jesus leads and as a “gate” he guides his sheep. Those who claim
Jesus are not left alone, but are guided in their lives. In all the chaos and challenge of our
existence, Jesus disciples have one who gives them direction in life. One writer puts it this way,
“…access to life [comes] through the quality of relationship to the one who is life.”9
Don’t miss this…abundant life – simply put – in NOT first and foremost about earthly riches,
but the quality of our relationship to the living God we know in Jesus the Christ.
“Abundant life” is not a phase used elsewhere in the Gospel of John.10 But phrases like “life in
fullness,” “eternal life,” and just “life” are words/phrases that are used over 35 times in the
Gospel of John. While in the other Gospels Jesus is always talking about the “kingdom of God”
or the “kingdom of heaven,” Jesus in John always seems to refer to “life in its fullness.”
Again, what Jesus means when he talks about “life” in this sense is the “special quality of
relationship that Jesus established between God and humankind.”11 Simply put, Abundant life is
life with God. Abundant life is life with God. Abundant life is that intimate relationship with
God that we can all confidently claim together.
You see, the Prosperity Gospel folks get it right in one way. Abundant life is not just beyond
this world, but it is something in the here and now. But while God cares about our earthly
possessions, God is far more concerned with the quality of our relationship with God – now and
always.
Pastor Jeff has been preaching on the theme of “Living a Life Like Jesus.” “Life is abundance” is
exactly what gives us the possibility of living this life. God is about transformation of this life.
Intimacy with God is what makes discipleship possible. As the Psalmist tells us, the Lord really
is our shepherd. Today. Right now. 12
9
http://warc.ch/24gc/07.html
http://warc.ch/24gc/07.html
11
http://warc.ch/24gc/07.html
12
In a quote which I did not use in the sermon, Dallas Willard comments on abundance in this
helpful way: “Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith
that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands
firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the
10
As we look ahead to Monday and remember the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., I would like to
end with an extended quite from Dr. King, words from a sermon he preached in January of 1956
(one month into the Montgomery bus boycott). The sermon is called “Our God is Able.” In
some ways, it sums of the idea of “abundance” far better than I ever could:
At the center of the Christian faith is the conviction that there is a God of power who is able to
do exceedingly abundant things in nature and in history….This ringing testimony of the
Christian faith is that God is able.
Admitting the weighty problems and staggering disappointments, Christianity affirms that God is
able to give us the power to meet them. God is able to give us the inner equilibrium to stand tall
amid the trials and burdens of life. God is able to provide inner peace amid outer storms. This
inner stability of faith is Christ's chief legacy to his disciples. He offers neither material
resources nor a magical formula that exempts us from suffering and persecution, but he brings
an imperishable gift: "Peace I leave you." This is the peace which surpasses all human
understanding.
Let this affirmation be our ringing cry. It will give us courage to face the uncertainties of the
future. It will give our tired feet new strength as we continue our forward stride toward the city
of freedom. When our days become dreary with low hovering clouds and our nights become even
darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a great benign Power in the
universe whose name is God, and God is able to make a way out of no way, and transform dark
yesterdays into bright tomorrows. This is our hope for becoming better people. This is our
mandate for seeking to make a better world. Amen! 13
forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring.” Dallas
Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 16
13
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/2584.htm
Next Step Questions:
When, so far, has been the “richest” time in your life? Was this time of your life the time when
you were most wealthy in possessions?
What is the difference between “prosperity” and “abundance” in your mind?
What kind of messages do we hear about wealth, abundance, and prosperity in our world? Who
gives them to us? How do they affect us?
How was Jesus’ own life a life of abundance? Was he wealthy? Powerful? Do you have this same
kind of abundance in your life?
Concepts related to the “fullness of life” are found throughout the Gospel of John. What do you
imagine we are being offered when Jesus promises us “life?”
In this passage, Jesus speaks of himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He tells us that his sheep are
those who: 1) hear and recognize his voice, 2) are known to him by name, and 3) follow him.
What does this imply about “abundant life?” Does this idea help us “live a life like Jesus?”
In his sermon “Paul’s Letter to American Christians,” Martin Luther King Jr. said, “God never
intended for one group of people to live in superfluous inordinate wealth, while others live in
abject deadening poverty.” Do you think this relates at all to Jesus’ concept of abundant life? If
so, how? If not, why not? Is material well being included in Jesus’ concept of life in abundance?
In his book The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard says this about the consequences of
NOT following Jesus, “Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by
love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness
that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and
withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to
bring.” How does this help you understand “life in abundance?” Is this (maybe) what it means to
“live a life like Jesus?”