By Steve A. Hamilton

Eccl. 12:13-14

Introduction: Living life abundantly is a desire we all would like to realize.  However, it seems that most people don’t know how to go about living an abundant life.  Most people turn to things in the world that they believe will result in much joy and happiness only to find they are farther away from it.  Abundant living seems to evade most people. So how do we live an abundant life?

I. Abundant living is not found in the years we live.

          A. Methuselah lived 969 years (Gen. 5:27) but as far as we know he didn’t accomplish anything noteworthy in his life except that he lived a long time.

          B. Unfortunately, dieing is the most noteworthy thing many people do in their entire life.  If it wasn’t for the newspaper article about how “John Doe” was shot by a police officer because he was high on drugs we would never have known “John Doe” existed.  A month from now we won’t even remember him. 

II. Abundant living is not found in the amount of education we receive.

          A. Some people spend many years in higher education and acquire many degrees and doctorates.  The most noteworthy thing they are perhaps known for is their large salaries. But how many truly happy doctors or professors do you know?

          B. Solomon noted that education leads to sorrow (Eccl. 1:18).   

III. Abundant living is not found in the accumulation of wealth.

          A. We fool ourselves into thinking money will bring happiness.  Yet, time and again, people with money make themselves miserable (Prov. 11:28; 1 Tim. 6:9-10).

          B. Christians know life isn’t about the things we acquire (Luke 12:15). 

IV. Abundant living is not found in worldly religions.

          A. The Scribes and Pharisees in Jerusalem devoutly followed their religious practices but notice the kind of praise Christ gave them (Matt. 15:7-9).

          B. Not even Jesus claimed to teach His own doctrine (John 7:16).

          C. Any religion that speaks of their own doctrine seeks their own glory (John 7:17-18).  In vain they teach the doctrines and commandments of men!

V. Abundant living is found in seeking Christ first!

          A. If we put anything before Christ don’t expect to live abundantly (Matt. 6:33).

                    1. Is your job more important than seeking Christ?  It is one thing to have a job that occasionally takes you away from the Lord but it is another thing when our jobs habitually take us away from the Lord.  Is that job going to give us an abundant life?

                    2. Are our relationships with family or friends more important than seeking Christ?  Six times in the scriptures the Lord has told us that seeking our life will cause us to lose it (Matt. 10:34-39; 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26; 17:33; John 12:25).  Notice living life our way is the equivalent of being ashamed of Christ!  It is simply because we put other things or people before Him.

          B. Seeking Christ requires diligence on our part (Heb. 11:6).

                   1. For example, Noah by faith built an Ark (Heb. 11:7).  He condemned the world by seeking the Lord first.  Do you think Noah ever thought of giving up the task in the 120 years it took to build the ark?   BTW, Noah didn’t build Arks for a living.

                   2. For example, Abraham by faith was willing to sacrifice his son (Heb. 11:17-19). 

                             a. If Isaac had done something for which the church had to withdraw its fellowship, do you think Abraham would have withdrawn his fellowship from his own son as well? 

                             b. Abraham didn’t want to kill his son but recognized that by killing him God could raise him up (not that God would).  Many of us don’t have enough faith to withdraw our fellowship from sinful members of our family because we do not have enough faith that God could raise them up.

          C. We must seek the Lord while we live (Isa. 55:6-7).

VI. Abundant living is only found by serving the Lord.

          A. Serving the Lord is the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13-14).

          B. Abundant living is not found in anything associated with this world.  Abundant living is only found in the Lord (1 Tim. 1:14-16).

          C. Abundant living means we will have a life full of happiness even when situations make us sad.  It means we will have love for others even when they mistreat us.  It means we will have joy even when we are being tried or persecuted.  It means we will be obedient to the Lord even when we are suffering.  It means we will accomplish great things often in small ways for the Lord.  No matter what life throws at us we can live in good conscience while looking forward to a better life in the hereafter.

Conclusion: Abundant living can not be done without forgiveness for our sins (Eph. 1:7).  Christ paid your debt of sin so you might have an abundant life.  If you wish to have an abundant life…

Last modified: 05/02/08