My Searching and Finding the Abundant Life

“… I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b

One statement of Jesus that profoundly and significantly impacts me is, “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

I read and memorized this verse as a small kid attending summertime Daily Vacation Bible School, or DVBS.

What started then as rote memorization became a journey gradually to my search for the ‘abundant life.’

I was born to parents who are both theology graduates and pastored several churches. I grew up with them working from church to church.

Because we lived from parsonage to parsonage, I would often say jokingly, “no permanent address,” when asked where we lived.

Experiencing the economic and psychological hardships and challenges of being the son of a rural pastor, I would always wonder about that abundant life that the Great Teacher said He came for us to have.

Also, how can I affirm my confidence in the abundant life that Jesus Christ promised when I have experienced injustice, dishonesty, corruption, jealousy, envy, and all kinds of strife among his faithful followers?

Where is abundance when the people of God go through hunger and poverty because opportunities have become scarce after they stand for what is right?

Of course, it is easy to understand what abundant life is in the context of the material world.

I grew up with the carnal understanding that to live a life of plenty, you always have more than enough food to eat. You also have lots of money to experience an affluent lifestyle, which includes a good house, cars, travel, parties, and anything a person or family could wish for.

Thus, keeping my heart and mind the questions, I chartered my course toward prosperity.

My goals were to study hard in high school to get a college scholarship, graduate from a course that would be my ticket to high-paying jobs, do well in my chosen career, and live comfortably in affluence.

Then, I was on my way to fulfilling my goals, sailing smoothly and successfully achieving victories left and right.

However, later on, after almost a decade of searching and chasing, I reflected on all my striving and struggling, using all the gifts God endowed me to gain the prosperity that I sought. I found myself living a meaningless life.

I exhausted all means to meet my goals. Still, I discovered that I cannot find real peace and happiness when everything in life reduces to achieving financial gain, compromising the fundamental values of truth and justice.

So, where could I find true abundant life if it is not present in having material affluence alone?

In late 1995, I worked in Manila for almost two years. I resigned from my job with an international NGO, which I found corrupt. I prayed and reflected on the Lord’s direction for my life.

Finally, after many years of a tiring journey, my search led me to one great discovery: abundant life is using my fullest potential for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, I discovered that living life to the fullest means using all my faculties, availability, and resources for the glory of God.

From the list of my work experiences, I noticed that there were productivity, development, and positive, memorable moments in the workplaces where I’ve been, where my full potential is acknowledged and used fully.

Life has never been so fulfilling when you are doing something that uses all your God-given gifts, regardless of whether or not you have money in your pocket. This statement might sound fatalistic to some of you, but I call it faith in God’s provision.

Surprisingly, the more I focused on having my fullest potential be used for Jesus Christ, the more provisions kept coming and coming – I discovered abundant life.

He will provide sincere, well-meaning people to join you in your quest for an abundant life.

I wrote this reflection in 2011 when I could only point to a few testimonies of God’s goodness. Nevertheless, I kept my faith in following the abundant life criterion I discovered and experienced – “using my fullest potential for the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When trials and challenges start to overwhelm me, I always look back to remember God’s abundance and name them “one by one.”

Remember that God’s abundant blessings aren’t counted nor defined according to the world’s materialistic standards.

Blessings include trials of various kinds, which have built my family and me in steadfast faith over the years.

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

Indeed, Jesus Christ has come to give life and have it abundantly.

PHOTO CREDIT: AI-generated photo of a man sailing.