Post by Randall Knighton on Jun 17, 2008 6:31:13 GMT -5
Less is More
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
This is a familiar passage to many and appropriate guide on how to live our lives as Christians. This passage takes place out of the mouth of John the Baptist in reference to our Christian walk. John was telling others that “a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). John then begins to give us all a model to have the fullness of God in our daily lives and that is that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In the world in which we live the standard for increase is to tear down and build bigger. Increase comes by increasing anything and everything that we can according to the worlds standards. However, in the Kingdom of God it is not done this way. Increase given by God comes as a direct result of our willingness to humble (decrease) ourselves for the purposes of God being exalted (increased). There are countless scriptures that tell us in order for there to be perfect increase it must come from God and it comes from our humbling ourselves before God. Sincere humility is ALWAYS blessed by God. Our desire to lessen ourselves for God’s purposes puts us in position for God’s best. 1 Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” Exaltation comes after we humble ourselves under God’s hand. If you desire the best thing in this life and the life to come humility is the only way to obtain it Prov.22:4-“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” When we decrease ourselves it does not mean that we are less than others it means that we acknowledge that we are not equal to or greater than God. However, in doing so we find ourselves given a place that we would never receive without humility and that would be as joint-heirs with Christ-Romans 8:17-“Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Less is more in the life of the Christian. It does not mean that we cannot live productive and prosperous lives it means that we know that all that we do have and will have comes from God and ultimately belongs to God. In ministry we are made greater the more we are willing to bow down to the simple fact that we can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5). To increase the quality of our lives we must:
1. Humble ourselves in the sight of God-Remember that God sees and knows everything. If we are not sincere He knows it and when we are sincere in humbling ourselves he knows that too and will respond with increase in our lives.
2. Handle increase with even more humility-This is where many people mess up the flow of God in their life. We must always handle every blessing of God by acknowledging that the blessing came from God and that increase came because of our willingness to decrease. We must then do what we did in the past to show God that we are able to handle blessings in our lives.
If we want more from God in any area of our life we must follow the example given in this verse of scripture. Increase comes but it comes when we decrease. John knew that the Messiah was present and in order for him (John) to receive all that the Messiah had to offer he must decrease and willingly allow Christ to increase in his life.
A Simple Equation: My faith in God +Less of Me (Humility) =More of God (Increase) in my life.
As a Christian do you find that it appears to outsiders that you have less when in actuality you have more?
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
This is a familiar passage to many and appropriate guide on how to live our lives as Christians. This passage takes place out of the mouth of John the Baptist in reference to our Christian walk. John was telling others that “a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). John then begins to give us all a model to have the fullness of God in our daily lives and that is that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” In the world in which we live the standard for increase is to tear down and build bigger. Increase comes by increasing anything and everything that we can according to the worlds standards. However, in the Kingdom of God it is not done this way. Increase given by God comes as a direct result of our willingness to humble (decrease) ourselves for the purposes of God being exalted (increased). There are countless scriptures that tell us in order for there to be perfect increase it must come from God and it comes from our humbling ourselves before God. Sincere humility is ALWAYS blessed by God. Our desire to lessen ourselves for God’s purposes puts us in position for God’s best. 1 Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” Exaltation comes after we humble ourselves under God’s hand. If you desire the best thing in this life and the life to come humility is the only way to obtain it Prov.22:4-“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” When we decrease ourselves it does not mean that we are less than others it means that we acknowledge that we are not equal to or greater than God. However, in doing so we find ourselves given a place that we would never receive without humility and that would be as joint-heirs with Christ-Romans 8:17-“Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Less is more in the life of the Christian. It does not mean that we cannot live productive and prosperous lives it means that we know that all that we do have and will have comes from God and ultimately belongs to God. In ministry we are made greater the more we are willing to bow down to the simple fact that we can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5). To increase the quality of our lives we must:
1. Humble ourselves in the sight of God-Remember that God sees and knows everything. If we are not sincere He knows it and when we are sincere in humbling ourselves he knows that too and will respond with increase in our lives.
2. Handle increase with even more humility-This is where many people mess up the flow of God in their life. We must always handle every blessing of God by acknowledging that the blessing came from God and that increase came because of our willingness to decrease. We must then do what we did in the past to show God that we are able to handle blessings in our lives.
If we want more from God in any area of our life we must follow the example given in this verse of scripture. Increase comes but it comes when we decrease. John knew that the Messiah was present and in order for him (John) to receive all that the Messiah had to offer he must decrease and willingly allow Christ to increase in his life.
A Simple Equation: My faith in God +Less of Me (Humility) =More of God (Increase) in my life.
As a Christian do you find that it appears to outsiders that you have less when in actuality you have more?