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)
