“You should abound more and more . . to walk and to please God.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1 NKJV.
Minimum effort will never bring maximum benefit.
My thoughts and comments today are about, “the minimum is never enough.”
Aren’t we strange creatures? People want to receive the maximum benefit from a minimum effort. Life just doesn’t work that way. There is an equity to life. Extra effort is rewarded. Your dividend is directly proportional to your investment, whether made in the coin of time, energy, abilities, or finances. A marriage does not endure with minimum investment. Children do not thrive with minimum love and care. A family does not grow close with minimum time together. A friendship does not deepen with minimum communication. Your spiritual life will not mature with minimum time and attention. The minimum is never enough.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 NIV. When you examine the context of this familiar verse, you discover Jesus’ instruction regards giving mercy and forgiveness, but provides a Godly principle that applies broadly to all areas of life. Give minimally and you will receive minimally; give your maximum to God and others and you will receive maximum blessings from God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV.
A favorite verse of mine has been and remains, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be glory . .” Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV. God lavishes the sufficiency of blessing and provision – “immeasurably more than all [you] ask or imagine.” God neither gives nor does the minimum. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV. You abound as a recipient of the blessings of God because God abounds in the grace of giving abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV.
There is a lovely story in the Old Testament. Nearing the end of his life, Abraham entrusted his oldest servant to bring a wife from Abraham’s homeland for his son, Isaac. (Read Genesis 24) He took ten camels and gifts of Abraham’s wealth for her and her family. Arriving at his destination and stopping at the well outside Nahor, he prayed that God’s choice for Isaac would be known to him by her generous response when he asked for her help, “. . And she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ Let her be the one You have appointed for Isaac.” Genesis 24:10-15 NKJV.
Rebekah could have done nothing; she could have shown minimal courtesy to a weary traveler. But Rebekah quenched his thirst and then as only God could script, she volunteered the extra effort to water all of his camels, as well as offering feed for the camels and a place where the servant could rest. Minimum effort will never bring maximum benefit. Little did she know she would soon ride on those same camels to meet and marry Isaac. See Genesis 24:61-66. As with Rebekah, your extra effort may be the instrument God uses to bless you and exceed your expectations.
The Bible says it best, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God . . Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1 NKJV/1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV.
My prayer for you today is that extra effort and doing your best is your lifestyle.