"Life more abundantly" is not what many think

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10b

There are so many who quote Jesus' words above and teach it as referring to a 'good life' by worldly standards. And many who hear this type of teaching never go on to examine this Scripture for themselves. I am not even referring to those who are blatantly covetous and seeking to get wealthy and build their personal empires. I am referring to average people who want to do what's right and truly believe that the abundant life Christ comes to give us refers to blessings of material possessions because that's how this Scripture is often explained and taught. According to what I've seen in Scripture,  this view is not merely 'incomplete' or 'unbalanced', I have to go so far as to say that it is entirely wrong.

I only intend to scratch the surface of this topic in the hope that you will be provoked enough to seriously consider what Jesus said for yourself and even study it some more. I think one of the best ways to do that is to ask you to consider what the key word in that sentence is. It's not "abundant(ly)" which is where too many teachers put the stress. The key word there is "life." So we need to go on and examine how God defines this promised "life". The Scriptures below should convince us that Jesus does not define "life" by terms which have to do with our natural existence and the material needs that come with it:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:25

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Luke 12:15

Jesus did not come to open the way for us to have an abundance of things here on the earth. Yes, some will be entrusted with many material possessions and and they will be required to produce much with it for the kingdom of God. But when God speaks of this gift of grace called "life", He speaks of an "eternal life" that transcends mortality.

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

1 John 5:11
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

The abundant life that Jesus Christ has come to give us is marked by an abundance of qualities that are only found in God, and it can be obtained only by knowing God.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Romans 14:17-18

Jesus Christ came so that we might have an eternal life that is full of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. You know when you have entered into this life because as you hear and obey His word

• you now have the ability to walk in the righteousness of Christ, to live an upright life with a clear conscience;
• you have peace that is not hinged upon what happens to you but upon your trust in what God says, and you know that it is well with your soul;
• you have joy even in trials that allows you to to reflect on His past deliverance, to hope in God for all else that comes, and you simply delight in the privilege of being called into relationship with God

This is an abundant life that does not depend in any way upon the material possessions and comforts which God may entrust to you. This abundant life never ends for the one who belongs to God. The abundant life will actually proclaim: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).