When I looked at our Lenten theme of ‘how do we live the abundant life,’ the first thing I thought I’d do was Google “abundant life” and see what wisdom other folks have written about this concept. Interestingly enough, the first article I clicked on touted the idea that living the abundant life has to do with achieving financial riches in this life. It’s what we call the prosperity gospel. Having grown up the shadow of Oral Robert’s ministries in Tulsa, I remembered how Oral was one of the televangelists who some believe helped to lay the foundations of the prosperity gospel with his seed-faith ministries years ago. Oral and others liked to quote the Proverb that said, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, then your barns will be completely filled.” There is lots of Old Testament theology that says if you honor the Lord in all you do then you will be blessed with riches and health. Then the Book of Job comes along and challenges that idea. Job is a man who does everything right. He gives his first gifts to God, prays regularly, including prayers for his children who mess up a lot. Job will lose everything he has including his health.
So, if the abundant life is not about being flooded with financial riches, then what is it? When I think of folks who have lived the abundant life many faces come to mind. One was Dale Reneau, longtime member of our church. Dale did live abundantly but it wasn’t so much about having a beautiful family and home. It wasn’t about his successful law practice. It was about serving others. For as long as I can remember, Dale served his church and his community by giving his time generously without any expectation of receiving anything back. He taught Sunday School for years, was a part of a Men’s Bible Study, he took Disciple Bible Study classes I led, and served faithfully on the Congregational Care Team.
Even after Dale’s health began to decline in his 80’s, he continued to serve. He continued to grow in his faith and he continued to go and visit others who were sick. During the last year of his life, he spent several weeks in the hospital and then in a skilled nurse facility. I wasn’t sure he’d ever get back to St. Luke’s and yet I remember the day Dale walked into his Sunday School class and surprised everyone. He went to worship after that. Living the abundant life for Dale meant getting to spend time with his family of faith and praising God in our sanctuary. After 86 years of living the abundant life, Dale went to be with God this past September. I said he expected nothing in return for a life of service and love, but that wasn’t completely accurate. He did tell me the last time I saw him that he hoped God would tell him as he entered the gates of heaven…. “well done good and faithful servant.”
As we contemplate living the abundant life this Lenten season, let us all hope those are the words God will speak to us as well when our time comes.
Rev. Dave Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
