Abundance: March 2010

March 30. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 30, 2010

ABUNDANCE

DEFINITION:

Extremely plentiful; over sufficient quantity or supply; affluence; wealth; overflowing fullness.

SCRIPTURE:

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. Matthew 25:29.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

As Christians we have in the Lord an abundance of wealth to draw on each day in order to live an abundant life. God wants us to live an abundant life. In John 10:10 He reminds us that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. God has also given us a standard and guidelines to live by. As believers we are known by the fruits (commonly known as the fruits of the Spirit) that we show in our daily living.

The Lord has given us through His Holy Spirit these fruits: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And we have an abundance of these fruits available to us if we open up our heart to the Lord and let His Holy Spirit direct us daily. There is no limit to what God can do through us. He is a God of abundance.

We have often said to each other that we have been so fortunate because we have lived our lives in the best of times. God has allowed us to have an abundance of “things” in our lives, far more than we deserved. We have had so much more than our parents had and much, much more than our grandparents ever thought of having. Just think of the many things here in America that we have now that our grandparents 70 years ago never had. We can start the list with things like indoor plumbing, running water, air conditioning, automobiles, microwave ovens, television, telephones, computers, cell phones just to name a few.

During our childhood days we did not have all the things available to kids today but we could walk the streets safely, take a bus with no concerns of potential harm and even go to the center of the city to shop and feel safe. But a few years ago things began to change. Our children and their children have to be aware that we live in a dangerous world and must take precautions for their own safety. Truly we lived in an era of abundance of good things that gave us a great quality of life. We believe that this happened because our generation basically had a strong faith in God and in turn God blessed our country because we worshipped Him and kept His name foremost in our schools, our government offices and our work places. We taught our children that our blessings came from God and if they expected God to bless them in abundance in their lives like He had blessed us that they needed to honor God in every area of their lives.

Even though we lived in an era of abundance as compared to our grandparents, we were very cautious and alert to live wisely. We had an abundance of the blessings that God gave us including talent and time but God chose that our treasures (wealth) was to be limited so we spent carefully so that we always had what we needed but not always what we wanted. We endeavored to always use what God gave us for His purposes and for His glory. It is so important today that each of us know how to use wisely the abundance God gives us.

WE should be so thankful for the abundance we enjoy. We have great concern for the future of our grandchildren. We all need to pray that God will continue to bless our nation, America, with abundance. This will only happen if Americans continue to keep their faith strong in the Lord which was the strength of the foundation our nation was built on.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 1:1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

PRAYER:

It is my prayer today that You would give me an abundance of the fruits of the Spirit that only You can give me through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for all that You have given me. It is my prayer that I might now use wisely what You give me so abundantly so that I may honor You and spread the good news of the gospel to a hurting world.