A
rallying cry often heard today in our economically challenged world is “Less
and less.” Governments are called to balance their budgets. People are urged to
use less energy and decrease consumption of limited resources. It is good
advice that we should all heed. In the realm of faith, however, there are no
shortages of love and grace and strength. Therefore, as followers of Christ, we
are urged to demonstrate His love in our lives in ever-increasing measure.
In the
apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, he urged them to
“abound more and more” in a lifestyle that pleases God (4:1). He also commended
them for their demonstration of love for each other, and called them to
“increase more and more” in brotherly love (v.10).
That kind
of ever-increasing love is possible only because it comes from God’s limitless
resources, not from our own dwindling supply. Poet Annie Johnson Flint wrote:
“His love
has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; For
out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”
The
apostle Paul expressed his desire for the believers: “May the Lord make you
increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you” (1
Thess. 3:12).
How much
should we love God and others? More and more!
Our
limited ability to love does not change God’s limitless power to love through
us. (RBC)
