Abounding and Abiding
We live with a tension between abounding in the Lord’s work and abiding in Christ.
On the one hand, Paul says abound, be actively working for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)
On the other hand, Jesus longs for us to “Abide in me… and my word.” (John 15:1-8)
Which one is primary, which is secondary?
Paul grounds our personal fruitfulness in Jesus himself, in his resurrection, in making disciples of all people groups. He also qualifies our abounding (which, he says, is not in vain in the Lord) in the crowns we receive and the labor we contribute as God accomplishes his purposes in our world.
We are to always abound. There is no quota here. No limits by gender, age, ethnicity, paid and unpaid ministry, more or less talent. Christians are all called to abound in the work of ministry in the Lord. Ten or five or one talent? Doesn’t matter. Abound in whatever is given.
But we’re also to permanently abide in Christ and his word, using the acrostic ABIDE (as inspired by John Ortberg).
A – Alignment. We abide in Christ when there is alignment between us and the Lord. When his
presence is operative in our lives, we’re allied. When we dwell in Christ the truth, our lives and our ways are one with Christ.
When a car’s four tires are out of alignment, we’re liable to drive off into the ditch. It’s true of life with Christ as well.
B – Bond. We bond with Christ when we abide in Christ. There is no better bonding agent than
love. It’s heaven’s eternal adhesive. We become one in our love.
I’m a woodworker and I know this reality. When you glue two pieces of wood together, the bond is stronger than the wood. If you stress the wood, the bond will hold but the wood might splinter. Our bonding to Christ in love is an unbreakable joint.
I – Image. The I in Abide is for image. To abide is to recognise the image of Christ in us who are following in his footsteps and becoming like our Teacher (Worth you while to study: Luke 6:40, Romans 8:26-30, 2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 3:2). The image of Christ is imprinted in us. It’s what we are becoming more and more: versions of Jesus in miniature. The image of Christ is our passport, our journey and our destination. That’s abiding.
D – Discipline. The D in Abide stands for discipline. We can only live freely in Christ when we live chastened lives. Disciplined in our waywardness. Disciplined in our habits and soul training (1 John 3:24; John 15:2; Hebrews 12:11) to conform us to the image of Christ.
Discipline is not always joyful in the moment (have you noticed?). But when the discipline has completed its work, joy is at hand.
E – Eternal Living. To abide in Christ is to take seriously that we have entered the school of Eternal Living. Now. Not when we die. Not by and by Right here. Right now.
When we abide in Christ, eternal living is ongoing, never ending. It’s always teeming with life, growing, pulsating with life’s energy, life-giving. Life without limits or boundaries.
So which is it? Abiding? Abounding? Where should we focus? Wrong question! Balancing the two is not the way?
Whether we abound (serving Christ actively in some capacity) or abide (remaining in his love) we do so in the greater context of the present and real kingdom of God, which is at hand.
The kingdom of God’s arrival and availability is the gospel Jesus proclaimed. We are to make disciples (abound), and “I am with you always (abide).” These are not choices we have to make. In this gospel of the kingdom the two sides are joined forever, never to be put asunder.