What is a More "abundant" Life?

I have come that they may have life, and that they have it more abundantly   - Gospel Of John 10:10
One could suppose many things from this statement by Jesus in the Gospel Of John in the Bible.
What Is An "Abundant" Life?
It also raises questions.  What kind of life is he talking about, and what does he mean by abundantly?
One could interpret several things from this passage, such as thinking about an earthly life and being prosperous financially as things God want for you. 
This post looks at things from a more Biblical perspective. (The last post referred to the "other" side of the life of LeBron James).
This post looks at the statement be Jesus from a spiritual perspective. The opinion of the author is that he is referring to eternal life and being more fulfilled.
The Shepherd And The Sheep
What if one looks back in the Gospel Of John and at what transpired immediately preceding this statement?  Jesus was discussing and referring to the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep.  A shepherd tends to the needs of his/her sheep.  This could involve a lot of things, but they are done to improve the quality of life for the sheep.  The notion is if the sheep follows the shepherd and does what he/she says it is better off, even if the task at hand is undesirable.
In a similar way Jesus is saying he tends to our needs.  This world is filled with a lot of temptations and traps which look good on the surface.  The message, however, is to follow the shepherd (Jesus) that is ultimately responsible.  This is what will fill our needs in the way that was intended from creation.  This guide for humans is the Bible, or God's revealed word.
Since God created humans he knows what they are like and what is ultimately better for them. 
 Jesus was also 100% human in addition to being God so he knows even better.
This sounds relatively simple, but it brings up an underlying point.  If it is accepted this statement by Jesus is referring to eternal life, then it presupposes that everyone will not experience the same level of fulfillment in the next world. 
Jesus might have saved you, but your experience in the next world also involves what you do in this world.
The next world is a mystery to humans, but one can go best by what God revealed. There are parables in the Gospels which show a relationship between this world and the next.  An example is one about the Rich Man and Lazarus in the Gospel Of Luke 16:19-31.  These are two sentences from this excerpt.
Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’- Luke 16:17  
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”- Luke 16:31
Thepoint of this in this post is to illustrate that God's word reveals that there is some type of relationship between this world and the next one.  Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, is telling humans now to bring a better "quality of life" in the next world.What about, "I have come that they may have life, and that they have it more abundantly?"From the opinion of this author the abundance of life is the fulfillment in the eternal realm.
This adds meaning to life because:   Eternity is a long time.  Making it more fulfilling might not seem as important as today's needs, but it eventually will be.  The decision made now impact eternity.



You might also be interested in:
The Responsibilities Of A Good Shepherd
God's Plan Can Not Be Thwarted, Only Spoiled
Author: Albert Wagner