More is Good

In our time, young people in urban environments are bombarded with messages that small is better. In large cities all over the world, homes, vehicles and spaces to live and move around in are generally small. The impressionable youthful mind is inundated with messages that less is good and minimalism rules. The environmental movement evolving over the past 50 to 60 years feeds into this world view as it constantly reminds listeners that people need to conserve and protect. Nature is fragile and we must be good stewards of our air, land and animals that roam it; however, God is in control and He is the creator of all things. We need to surrender to His power and majesty and wisdom and not place nature above people. Humanity is the crown and jewel of creation which serves as an orientation to all environmentalist movements that work to protect nature. Environmental activism is good until those in the political arena harm other people. When that happens, the good going out to create change comes back to consume its very own initiative, corrupting the original purpose. Prayer and wisdom are required when looking at the framework of contemporary culture so that minimalism and conservationism does not seep into other areas of life where God clearly teaches that excess is good. Two areas of life that come to mind are babies and love. God clearly teaches that more life is good. In Genesis 1:28 we read, “be fruitful and multiply.” Today many young couples, caught in the chokehold of modern minimalism, tend to follow conventional and restrictive norms and stop after having two children. This is the great sorrow of Western Culture as a whole where immigration has been given priority in growing population rather than encouraging the creation of new life. Powers of evil have in fact worked to destroy new life in the womb for decades. In the Bible we learn that we should not put chains on the power of love: “on the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul” (Psalm 138: 3) The inner capacity to love, be generous and help others in charitiable works is encouraged by God as limitless. This point is verified in the New Testament in 1 Thessalonians 3;12, “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.” Restricting love is senseless, illogical and unbiblical. In this arena more is good; excess is encouraged because life is precious. People are first and foremost and central to God’s plan of salvation. Jesus did not come to earth to die for trees or whales; trees and whales are good, but people are more important. Let us not lose sight of this teaching as we close out 2018 and look forward to a new year.