John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Many have taken this to be a verse pertaining to prosperity, with "the more abundant life" referring to great prosperity physically, mentally, spiritually, and materially. But is that really what this verse says? Is this for what Jesus Christ came? Is this reflected in how he lived his own life, or in what he taught?
Before we try to answer these questions, let's take a closer look at the word "more" in John 10:10. In Greek, as well as in English, adjectives and adverbs may be either simple, comparative, or superlative. "Pretty" and "beautiful" are examples of the simple form; "prettier" and "more beautiful" are comparative, while "prettiest" and "most beautiful" are superlative. In the King James Version the English word "more" in this verse leads one to believe that the comparative form is used here, but this is not the case in the Greek.
The phrase "more abundantly" in John 10:10
is the Greek word perissos meaning abundantly. The comparative form, perissoteros, is used many times in Scripture, but is not used here. This phrase refers back to the word "life." What is the life "abundantly" to which this scripture refers. Is it an abundance of everything material needed to make life enjoyable?
If someone promised to give us money ?abundantly," we would immediately understand that he meant lots of money. If he promised us fish abundantly, we would look for lots of fish. Perhaps Christ came, then, to give us "lots of life?"
John 10:27,28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus' statement here, shortly after his reference to "life abundantly," suggests strongly that this is the case; that Jesus came so that we might have lots of life, everlasting life. This puts John 10:10 in solid agreement with numerous other scriptures dealing with why Jesus came. For example:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, 'Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.'
Proverbs 23:4,5 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes on that which is not? for riches make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
I Timothy 6:8,9 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Clearly we are not to set our focus on getting things. Does God then want us to be poverty-stricken or defeated? Not at all! But one would be hard-pressed to find a scripture that tells us to focus on receiving the things of this world so as to obtain them. What then should we do, so that we do not go without what we need?
First, we must look to God as our source of supply, and elevate obedience to God above getting our needs met. When we do this, God promises that He will supply our needs.
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God also promises that when we humble ourselves before Him, He will exalt us when the time is right.
I Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
Second, we need to become genuinely thankful for the things that God has already done for us.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ Which strengtheneth me.
Third, we need to focus our attention on giving to and ministering to others, rather than on receiving for ourselves.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
11 Corinthians 9:8,11 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Financial prosperity is a blessing from God, however I do not believe that is the subject of John 10:10. The primary reason for Jesus' corning is that we might have eternal life. That's lots of life! We need not read into this verse things that are not there in order to find God's promise of prosperity. God has, through the many promises given in His word, made provision for our every need and more and we can walk into His prosperity by immersing ourselves in His Word, by obeying Him, by giving of our abundance to others and by being thankful in every situation. -