Thieves would be far less troublesome if they announced their plans—what they intend to take, when, and how. Their power lies in their ability to act undetected, leaving their victims unaware until it is too late. Jesus was familiar with the tactics of thieves and referenced them in a few of His teachings. In John 10:10 (NKJV), He gives both a warning and a promise: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Jesus’ promise of an abundant life is comforting, but His warning about the thief’s intentions is equally vital. The word “abundant” in this context means far more than just having more than enough; it signifies a superior and extraordinary life. Yet, many Christians feel as though they are living in scarcity.
If you were to evaluate your life honestly, could you say you have more than enough—whether in money, talent, relationships, influence, or time? Does your life reflect the extraordinary fulfillment Jesus promised? An extraordinary life is the foundation of an epic legacy. But for most of us, leaving a significant legacy feels beyond our reach. We would be content with enough time, talent, and resources to teach a meaningful Bible study, make a special meal, or build a few relationships of real value.
We often believe extraordinary, abundant lives belong to others—those with greater influence, better looks, or more notable giftings. We know the body of Christ has many members, and it is hard to see ourselves as significant. But to believe that our life lacks abundance is to question the truth of Jesus’ promise. When we start to feel like our life is not enough, it is important to pause and consider all Jesus was telling us because there is a chance we have received abundant life from Him while simultaneously giving opportunities to thieves.
We must identify the work of the thief and what he desires to take from us. We have been misled to believe that abundance and scarcity can be defined by what we have and who we are. We make it all too easy for the thief to take the abundance Christ offers because we are busy trying to protect the insignificant things that make us feel valuable and secure. What if abundance isn’t about receiving recognition but recognizing the greatness of God in our lives?
One example comes from the story of a little servant girl in II Kings 5. We might evaluate her as insignificant based on the qualifications we often set for what accounts for an abundant life. Nothing about her would qualify her to be a benefactor to a prominent leader—not in her society then, nor in our society today.
She was a servant and a stranger in a foreign land. She had no home to host guests or wealth to share, and her most meaningful relationships had been torn apart. She was entirely dependent on her captors. As if that weren’t enough, her master’s household was facing collapse because of his dreadful disease. Given her circumstances, it is hard to imagine the makings of a legacy.
Yet her simple statement reveals a life of profound legacy-building faith: “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy” (II Kings 5:3, NKJV). These few words display courage and compassion that defy her circumstances.
Despite the loss of her freedom, family, and home, this young girl lived with the certainty that God’s promises could not be diminished by her situation. Her faith in God’s power and her willingness to speak boldly reflect a heart that understood abundance not as wealth or status but as trust in God who blesses His people to be a blessing to others. Her faith set in motion events that restored Naaman’s health and revealed God’s power to a nation that did not know Him. Her life reminds us that extraordinary legacies are not built on what we possess but on Whom we serve.
This servant girl’s story challenges our assumptions about abundance. While we often equate it with comfort or achievement, she demonstrates that true abundance comes from faithfully reflecting God’s character, regardless of the circumstances. God knew right where this servant girl was in the worst moments of her life. Her willingness to live out her faith in those times would become a legacy that Jesus Himself would reflect upon, referencing her in Luke 4:27 as part of His teaching on God’s work among the Gentiles.
Her story foreshadows the servant mindset that Jesus Himself embodied—a life that seeks not to be served but to serve, as described in Philippians 2:5–8. It is an example of how we can live out this invitation to have the mind of Christ.
The servant girl’s life was abundant not because of what she had but because of her unwavering trust in God’s greatness. It reminds us that an abundant life flows not from what we protect or achieve but from how we serve and reflect the one true source of abundance—Jesus Christ. This is the knowledge Jesus urged us to safeguard from the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
KAREN BAILEY enjoys answering God’s call alongside her husband, Rick Bailey, pastor of Calvary Tabernacle Church in Beloit, Wisconsin. She loves serving Wisconsin district ladies ministries and encouraging the next generation to pursue God through His Word.
