Many who say they are Christians seem to try to give what they believe to be the minimum service to God. They try to obtain "just enough knowledge," do "just enough teaching of others," have "just enough love," etc. to get by. This attitude is not taught nor approved in the New Testament.
The New Testament stresses and enjoins us doing the maximum, our sincere best. As Christians we're to be spiritually ambitious, and abounding in our service to God. The word abound means "to exist in abundance" or "to overflow." Paul exhorted the Corinthians, "But as you abound in everything; in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us; see that you abound in this grace also." (2 Corinthian 8:7). In Romans 15:13, Paul wrote, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
We should abound in love. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:9, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment..." By thus abounding in love, love will be the control and motivation of our lives.
We need to abound in knowledge. The Scriptures teach that we are to add knowledge, increase in knowledge, and grow in knowledge according to 2 Peter 1:5, Colossians 1:10, and 2 Peter 3:18. Without knowledge of God's word, we are blind and cannot see afar off, according to 2 Peter 1:5 and 9. Without knowledge of God, we are unable to walk pleasingly to Him according to Colossians 1:9-10. Without knowledge, we are unable to approve the things that are excellent according to Philippians 1:9-10. We're to strive to possess knowledge to the degree of it being in abundance and overflowing.
Are you abounding in your service to the Lord, or are you trying to do the bear minimum?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.