What an Abundant Life is Not
What is an abundant life to you?
We can think of many things that an abundant life would look like to us. What is the first thing that comes to mind? When do you think an abundant life can happen? Here are some of the misconceptions:
1) An abundant life is all about performance and achieving personal goals and milestones.
The Truth: An abundant life is not about what you do. It is about embracing your identity as God’s child and being exactly who you are and what you were made for. It's about living in uniformity with God's will, practicing virtues, and trusting in Our Father. He gives us grace to have an abundant life. “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life” (CCC 1996).
Success is measured by faithfulness, love for God and others, and our interior transformation. St. Thérèse of Lisieux's "little way" exemplifies this by emphasizing doing small acts with great love rather than achieving grand accomplishments.
2) An abundant life is characterized by material wealth, financial success, and status.
The Truth: While there is no problem with being wealthy financially or materially, these should not consume you. An abundant life is not defined by what you have or where you stand in comparison to others. Jesus teaches that true abundance comes from spiritual richness. Detachment from the world and clinging to God brings true freedom and happiness.
3) An abundant life is measured by worldly success and recognition.
The Truth: While achievements can be good, we are called to humility, service, and faithfulness to God's calling. We must recognize that it is God who should be glorified when we let our light shine (Matthew 5:16). The lives of the saints often exemplify how true abundance is found in serving God and others, sometimes in hidden and humble ways. Jesus himself warned against seeking worldly praise and emphasized the importance of serving others (Mark 10:42-45). “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44).
The Litany of Humility is a beautiful yet challenging prayer that, if lived out, will bring us an abundance of interior peace.
4) Life will be easy and free from suffering, pain and hardship.
The Truth: Suffering is a part of the human condition and can have redemptive value, build our character, and give rise to our personal vocation. Jesus himself suffered and taught that his followers would also face trials: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Suffering can unite individuals more closely with Christ and lead to spiritual growth and deeper faith.
5) An abundant life means constant comfort.
The Truth: “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness” (Pope Benedict XVI). An abundant life includes joy, but this joy often comes through perseverance, self-sacrifice, and living out one's vocation well. True joy is found in living in fullness of God’s will and experiencing the peace that comes from a deep relationship with Him.
6) I can do it alone.
The Truth: God created a companion for Adam because He knew that he was not meant to be alone: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Nothing great was ever achieved without a support system. Jesus is the greatest model of abundance, and He had a community of disciples and many followers. We are social beings meant to live in relationship. Our life alone is a gift in itself, but a gift that is given and shared is even greater.
7) An abundant life means being perfect, never failing or making mistakes.
The Truth: If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need God. An abundant life involves ongoing conversion, repentance, and relying on God's mercy. The sacraments, especially Confession, are channels through which we receive God's forgiveness and grace to continue growing in holiness. As St. Paul wrote, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast most gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell within me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). How would a child ever learn to walk without falling first? God allows us to fail, which can build us up if we see it as a learning experience. It teaches us more about ourselves, our limitations, and provides us with insights to become better.
8) An abundant life is about immediate gratification, results, and fulfillment of desires.
The Truth: True fulfillment often requires waiting, self-discipline, and trusting in God's timing. Seeking immediate gratification is short-lived and not sustainable. The virtue of temperance helps individuals moderate their desires and seek true happiness in God. Abundance is not about the result; it is about what you gain through a lifelong journey with God.
9) An abundant life is free from sin and temptation.
The Truth: An abundant life involves ongoing spiritual warfare, vigilance, and reliance on God's grace to resist temptation and grow in virtue. The holiest of saints experienced and overcame temptation with God’s help. We must learn to be God-reliant, not self-reliant.
10) An abundant life is far from now.
The Truth: An abundant life can be experienced today and now. It is about living in the present moment with God's grace and finding joy and fulfillment daily by living authentically and responding to His call. Jesus invites us to experience the fullness of life here and now (John 10:10) through the sacraments, prayer, and living out our faith in our current circumstances.
question to ponder
What is does abundance look like to you?
