Dwelling in God`s Abundance

Bible Readings: Psalm 36:5-10
Ephesians 3: 14-21

It is my privilege and joy to be among you today at this special 160^th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan. I bring you the greetings and congratulations of the World Council of Churches. We give thanks to God for the faithful witness of the PCT over these many years. You have chosen an appropriate theme for this anniversary celebration. Life and witness go through varied experiences, and I am sure that you as a Church can attest to that, but we must never forget the abundant presence and blessings of God all through these times. 

Our readings today from Psalm 36 and Ephesians 3 points us to these blessings. Psalm 36 is a reflection on the great generosity and blessings of God. The Psalmist acknowledges the evil, sinfulness, wickedness and deceitfulness of people. They have no fear of God. And yet, God remains faithful, just, righteous and loving. God`s love is priceless and unfailing. The Psalmist tells us that they feast on the abundance of God`s house. It is such a powerful image and description of what it means to dwell in God`s house. We are reminded that though we are at time unfaithful and disobedient to God yet the God who covenants with us always remains faithful and true. He blesses us with abundance not because of us but oftentimes despite our failures and disappoints to His will and call. 

But let’s be clear about the abundance in God`s house. What is this abundance? Our understanding of abundance is often focused on material things, possessions, money and success. Abundance is associated with wealth, fortune, luxury, status, pomp and ceremony. Abundance is about success and power. It is sad to know how many churches see God`s abundance in such materialistic terms. For them blessings are about prosperity and wealth. If you are not wealthy then you are not blessed, so they say. They preach this, live this and demand high flying lifestyles and even propagate a gospel of prosperity. Yet, the way of Jesus is completely different. He identifies with the poor, needy, sick, disadvantaged and sinners.

We have just celebrated Easter. We have journeyed through the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus turns the idea of power and status upside down. His life, work and witness speak of powerlessness, humility and simplicity. He did not claim authority with the Father something to be grasped instead he became a servant and gave up his own life so that others may receive the gift of eternal life. 

The Psalmist draws us back to this abundant house. He paints a beautiful and different picture of God`s house. It is a house where you receive the fountain of life, see the light, where love, righteousness and justice flow. It is a house of abundance that stands in contrast to what abundance means today. And it is this kind of house that God desires the church to be. As you celebrate your 160<sup>th</sup> Anniversary and give thanks for these years, it may be good to reflect on what it means to dwell in God`s abundant house. In this picture of God`s abundance are key elements to describe what the church ought to be in the world today and always. So, what does God`s abundance look like?

God`s abundant house is a house, a church that dwells in: 

LOVE

Easter speaks of God`s abundant love. It is God`s love for the world that prompted Him to give his only begotten Son so that those who believe will not perish but have eternal life. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3 reminds us about the measure and depth of God`s love. He calls us to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. It surpasses knowledge. 

Paul does not only speak about the quantity of God`s love but also about its quality. It is so firm and strong that absolutely nothing in this world can separate us from God`s love: “no trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword… No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:35-37). As if quantity and quality is not enough, Paul goes to practical living. He defines and describes what love looks like in the house of abundance. In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, The Apostle tells us that, “Love is patient, kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, self-seeking, easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This description of love seems like a tall order. I wonder whether abundant love dwells in the church? We live in a world where there is so much of hatred, racial and ethnic conflicts, prejudices and persecution. Love is seriously affected and challenged. Yet, Jesus calls us to love our enemies and those who persecute, insult and do all sorts of things against us. 

I come from South Africa, a country ruled by racial, political and economic oppression under apartheid, a policy that dehumanised and denied the rights and privileges of the majority black people in that country. After the demise of apartheid, people were called to love and forgive their oppressors. This, admittedly, is most difficult. But many people did because they were overwhelmed by God`s love. We are told to love our enemies and to be good neighbours. This is difficult but possible not because of us but because of God`s abundant love. Can you feel that love? Do you know that love?

As a people and individuals, you know persecution and struggles. You have encountered these personally and collectively. It is difficult to forgive, to find reconciliation and to love again but to dwell in God`s abundant love is to find peace and reconciliation. To dwell in God`s abundant house is to dwell in love, forgiveness and reconciliation. To dwell in God`s love is to embrace diversity and differences. To live in God`s love is to have tolerance, understanding and be kind to the other. 

JUSTICE

While God`s house is a place of abundant love, it is also a house of abundant justice. Love does not mean that we accept wrongs and injustices against us with a passive and accepting spirit. No, it means that we stand up for our rights and the rights and dignity of others. The bible tells us that God is just, and he loves justice and righteousness. The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 36 verse 6 that “God`s righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.”

The church dwelling in God`s abundance is a church living and championing justice. We live in a world riddled with injustices: economic, ecological, gender and digital injustices. We live in a world where the powerful undermine and oppress the vulnerable. We live in a world where we think might is right and evil is good. We live in a world where injustices prevails where political, economic and social structures rob and deny people of human rights and human dignity. We live in a world of wars and conflicts. We see people dying daily as victims of violence, wars, hunger, poverty and natural disasters. 

The church that dwells in God`s justice cannot remain idle and detached from the concerns of the world around us. Amidst these mounting injustices the church must stand up and declare enough is enough! The church is tasked to accept and live out its prophetic witness, proclaiming Christ and God`s justice in the world. The church needs to draw the world to God`s kingdom ideals but more than that the church must be that alternative community in the world around us. 

Thus, it is imperative for the church to also live justice among herself as she proclaims justice to the world. We need to address our own unjust situations and practices if we are to have a credible and exemplary message to the world. 

FAITH AND HOPE

The Apostle Paul prays for the church in Ephesus and for us that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (v.17). Implicit faith and trust in God are what is needed today among believers in Christ. We live in a world where we are laden with one crisis after another. With the suffering, pain and struggles that prevail there is no peace and also there is a crisis of faith. People question and give up on God. It is easy to give up but let us learn what our readings tell us today that in God`s house there is abundance of faith. Faith in God. In a God whom we know will rescue and save us. Faith in a God who will conquer the powers of evil, all principalities and powers. Faith in a God who addresses our fears and anxieties and fills us with the joy of his Holy Spirit. So, we can sing with joy and hope and the assurance that we will overcome because God is with us. 

In the dark days of apartheid in South Africa I went into the townships and there I saw people dancing and singing and I wondered how they could do this amidst suffering and oppression. And they responded, our faith in God tells us that we shall overcome. Amid crises faith must abound. Abound in abundance! 

We are living in hopeless times as we face global challenges. Yet we are called to hope against hopelessness as Abraham did. We are not consumed by hopelessness and despair but filled with faith and hope. These are eschatological gifts that remain with us. God fills us with abundance of faith and hope in troubled and trying times. I am sure that you as a church and as individuals have encountered very dark days of despair and hopelessness, but God has provided strength and spiritual sustenance. The gifts of faith hope and love have persisted all through these times. 

As you celebrate your 160^th Anniversary, I ask you to remember what the Lord has done, how he has kept you strong and faithful witnesses, and give thanks for God`s abundant blessings. I pray for you as the Apostle Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus that: 

1. You will be strengthened in God`s power through the Holy Spirit (v.16), 
2. Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith (v.17) and hope.
3. Rooted and established in love you may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. 

And in keeping with the focus from our readings today, I pray that you may continue to dwell in God`s abundance. Love, justice, faith and hope, now this is what the church should look like as it mirrors God`s abundance. Unfortunately, too many churches are caught up with the notion of success viewed in power, wealth, and numbers. We think abundance is equated to success and power. However, what we learn from the example of Jesus is that it is not success that matters but faithfulness. Faithfulness to God and faithful witness to God in a struggling and suffering world. You have maintained this faithful witness. I was pleased to read the message of the PCT General Secretary on 16 January 2016 in response to the General Election. It said, “The PCT reiterates its Confession of Faith that it must embody love and suffering and become a sign of hope. The church must be the conscience of the nation on the basis of the Scripture and its Christian faith to love mercy, uphold justice and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). This we must all keep doing, abundantly. 

A story is told of a lady who had millions of dollars in the bank, but she chose to live a very mean and stingy lifestyle. She thought of saving her wealth and refused to spoil herself or give to the needy from her abundance. She died and was given a pauper’s funeral because no one knew or tasted of her riches. 

May this never happen to the church that the world may never know or taste of the abundance of God`s love, justice and peace through our mission and ministry. In faith and hope let us continue to work to create a better world for all people and creation and may we never cease to express God`s grace, salvation and generosity. As we celebrate and live in God`s abundance let us share, live and be God`s abundance in the world. May God bless the PCT in your continued ministry in Taiwan and beyond. 

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay 
General Secretary
World Council of Churches