In this year’s Journey together, we learn about what it means to “Experience Real Life in the Risen Lord.” Our theme comes from John 10:10 where Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
In the small group study, each group will dig into what real life, or living in the kingdom of God, looks like. There are many ways that Christians are called to live counterculturally (more on that in the weeks to come!), but perhaps the most countercultural call for Christians is to live with an ethic of abundance.
An ethic of scarcity, the opposite of abundance, makes us want to hold tight to what we have. An ethic of scarcity sees our world as a zero-sum game, where gains by one person only come through another person’s loss. This ethic of scarcity can invade every part of our lives - time, money, relationships, security and more. Many of you have seen the tattoo on my left wrist. I wear “enough” as a reminder that within God’s kingdom, I have enough and I am enough, that there is no reason to fear. I also wear it as a reminder that we are called to make sure everyone has enough and that, even before I know I have what I need, I am called to share with others.
In a world that is driven by an ethic of scarcity, seeing God’s abundance is often dismissed as being Pollyanna-ish or as looking through rose-colored glasses. And yet, seeing the abundance is part of living in God’s kingdom - not just after we die, but in the present and working so that others can see it and live in it too. Living in abundance is to trust that when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” God will truly do that, giving us what we need for each day in front of us.
How do you see abundance in your own life? What blessings is God asking you to share with others? As Gandhi said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
In the abiding hope of the Risen Lord,
Pastor Lecia