Living Abundantly With Less

During the worst of the economic recession a few years ago, I heard story after story of people going through devastating financial challenges and forced downsizing of their homes. For most of us, this would be a tragedy but as many discovered, it could be a blessing. One friend said of her financial difficulties, “This forced stripping is becoming a wonderful gift. The meaning of a house and its furnishings has dramatically changed for us through this challenge. There is a sense of freedom and a feeling of freshness that is taking the place of our loss and regret.”

The theme of simplicity and downsizing has been ongoing in my home for several years. For me, this voluntary journey springs from a desire to get rid of the excess that weighs my life down, and trust more fully in God’s provision.

Downsizing, whether forced or voluntary, helps us redefine what abundance really means and shows us what is important: the truth of God’s word and living his way.

The world tends to see abundance in terms of material things – the more, the better.  Jesus has a different perspective. He said in John 10:9-11: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

When Jesus says in John 10:10 that he came to give life “abundantly” he is not speaking about material gain. The New Living Translation says “to give life in all its fullness.”

The Greek word for “abundantly” in this verse is perissos and is translated to mean “exceeding some number or measure or rank or need; over and above, more than is necessary, superadded; exceeding abundantly, supremely; something further, more, much more than all, more plainly; superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon; pre-eminence, superiority, advantage, more eminent, more remarkable, more excellent.”

This rich scriptural definition of abundance reminds me that one of my favorite names of God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. The name means “The Lord sees and provides.”

Like a good shepherd, he is not a sometimes provider or an almost provider, but a remarkable, excellent provider. He sees what we need in every area of life and takes it on himself to provide. When we step out on faith and receive life with Christ in all its fullness, we are released from the stress of providing for ourselves or worrying about what will happen tomorrow or the next day or a year from now. When we rest in his promises, we can hold everything with open hands that allow us to let go as easily as we receive.

Ephesians 3:17-20 speaks to the fullness of life Christ came to give: “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” (TLB)

This is a promise we can count on – that even as we let go of our stuff, God fills our lives with more satisfying abundance than the world could ever offer.

What are you holding on to, that you need to give to Jesus, your Good Shepherd and Jehovah Jireh?

Share with us in the comments:

How does seeing God as a provider of abundant life change your perspective? Will you live differently with this truth in mind?