I do not want to anyone to read this and assume that I have the Christian life mastered.  I do not!  I don’t even think I am close; and the closer I get, the further away I realize I am.  However, there are some principles I have applied that have helped me a lot, and they just might help you too.  Trouble is, most people will not follow them, and I really have trouble understanding why.  The Bible teaches us…

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8). 

In order to have some things, they must be sought after. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2) Some things do not come automatic.

I am very happy in my marriage, but many Christians are not.  I don’t worry a lot and I am seldom angry with any one, but many Christians can’t say that.  Although I have had limited income, and no retirement except for Social Security, I have always been quite content with our finances, while many Christians struggle from paycheck to paycheck.  I love my work, I love my church, I enjoy my own company.  I have often been alone, but I haven’t been lonely in over thirty years.  Yet, I know some good people battle those things.

I say all this, not because I am a super Christian.  Most of these things were true about my parents, and for much of my life they were not even saved.  But, it does bother me that these things are not true for a lot of believers.  Our gracious Lord has so many unclaimed blessings awaiting you right here on this earth.  Abundant life is not just for Heaven, it is for here and now.It concerns me that the church and the world have only seen a limited manifestation of God’s power, because as a whole, Christians have refused to yield to the Word of God.  We have handcuffed God in our lives, by keeping His prescription for abundant life, which He freely offered us, locked away.  I have an abundant life.  Do you feel that you have an abundant life?

You became a Christian by obeying God’s Word, that’s the way it works.  That’s the way all things work in the Kingdom.  I read once about a man whose lifelong dream was to board a cruise ship and sail to Europe. He dreamed of walking the streets of Rome and Athens, and to visit the land of his ancestors. He saved every penny until he had enough for his passage. Since money was tight, he brought an extra suitcase filled with cans of beans, boxes of crackers, and bags of powdered lemonade, and that is what he lived on every day.

He would have loved to take part in the many activities offered on the ship; working out in the gym, playing miniature golf, and swimming in the pool. He envied those who went to movies and shows. And, oh, how he yearned for only a taste of the amazing food he saw on the ship.  Every meal appeared to be a feast!  But the man had very little money, so he didn’t feel he could participate in any of these pleasures. He was able to see the cities he had longed to visit, but for the most part of the journey, he stayed in his cabin and ate only his humble food.

On the last day of the cruise, a crew member asked him which of the farewell parties he would be attending. He informed the crew member that he did not have the money to attend.  It was only then, that the man learned that not only the farewell party but almost everything on board the cruise ship—the food, the entertainment, all the activities—had been included in the price of his ticket. Too late, the man realized that he had been living far beneath his privileges.  The question this story raises is, are we living below our privileges, when it comes to the power, gifts, and blessings that are ours as children of God?  Sadly, in our daily lives, there may be little evidence that we are utilizing the resources that God has provided for us.

So, we are faced with a choice. We can be satisfied with a diminished experience as believers and settle for experiences far below our privileges. Or, we can partake of an abundant feast of spiritual opportunity and blessing that has already been purchased for us.  It comes with the price of the ticket, and that was paid for by Jesus.

If you are a good employee, you will try to learn as much as you can about your job.  It matters not if you are an electrician, a salesperson, teacher, or a clerk in a store, you want to learn as much as you can.  Not only might it help you advance financially, it will also make your work easier and more fulfilling.  As people of God, we also need to become experts in applying the principles of God’s Word to our lives.  So many of us are trying to live this life in our own power.  Mom and Dad did that quite successfully for years, but in today’s world most folks are so spoiled and weak, such a feat is quite rare.

Sometimes we complain about the behavior of non-Christians, especially their moral and life style choices.  But, we must remember they do not have our resources, they do not have our knowledge, they do not have our power.  Their lives have not been transformed by the power of Christ.  A far bigger concern for me is Christians who are living lives just as bad, if not worse, than lost people.  Why are our marriages and finances no better than theirs?  Why are our lives just as messed up as theirs?

I know we would all agree that there is saving power in the Gospel.  But, just as there is saving power in the Gospel, there is also enabling power in the Gospel.  There is the power for believers to live an abundant life.  Yet, despite this truth, there are those who are spiritually weak and powerless because they do not avail themselves to the Word of God.  You and I have access to the fruit of the Spirit; Galatians 5:22-23 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Christian couples, you have the power to have a happy marriage, if you want it bad enough to apply the Scriptures.  You have the power to straighten out your finances, if you want it bad enough to apply the Word.  You have the power to be as faithful to your church as your lost neighbor is to the volunteer fire department or to his civic club, if you are willing to obey the Lord.  You have the power to overcome worry, to forgive the unforgivable, to become longsuffering and patient, to become a model employee, all this is yours, if you want it bad enough to apply the Scriptures.  Yet, so many are living beneath their privilege.

Think of what a glorious thing it is to reach beyond our earthly limitations, to have the eyes of our understanding opened and receive light and knowledge from heavenly sources! It is our privilege and opportunity to seek personal revelation and to learn how to know the truth for ourselves through the sure witness of the Holy Spirit.  Far to often we pass through this life wearied, worrying, and whining. We live beneath our privileges when we allow worldly anchors to keep us away from the abundant joy that comes from our union with Christ. We live beneath our privileges when we fail to partake of the feast of happiness, peace, and joy that God grants so bountifully to His children.

Now, perhaps you think you’ve blown it.  You’ve messed up.  But, know this, your gracious Heavenly Father will not hold those bad decisions against you, He has not been keeping a tally of your wrong turns and He certainly has not removed your name from the Book of Life. Your inheritance is still yours. Stop accepting less than what you deserve. Stop selecting less than you desire and stop doing things that make others wonder if you are really His child. You deserve the best and God has the best for you. It’s time to live the life God intended.  You are royalty so stop living like a peasant.  Take your rightful place in the Kingdom.  It is time to stop living beneath your level of privilege.

This is low hanging fruit.  All can reach it.  Even some lost people have applied the principles of God’s Word to their lives and found blessing.  How much the more should you and I?

Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry for over forty five years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries and Christian Bible College.