Extravagant Love

Ever drive through a wealthy neighborhood looking at all the mansions? Maybe you watched the old TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and was fascinated by the posh lifestyle. Some of you may have taken it a step farther and was able to take advantage of an open house and toured one of these homes, or maybe visited a mansion that has now become a museum. It seems one word comes to mind most when looking at these homes and the lifestyles of those who live in them.

Extravagant.

The word brings out negative emotions for many. The definition caters to that negativity as well. Webster’s second definition for it is “exceeding the limits of reason or necessity” and continues with “lacking in moderation, balance, and restraint.” One that applies well to wealthy neighborhoods would be “Extremely or excessively elaborate.”

But extravagance does not automatically necessitate a negative connotation. God’s love for his people could easily be called extravagant. He loves to lavish gifts on people, gifts that are far more than any of us could ever earn or deserve. Scripture is full of examples, but one that comes to mind personally is God’s continued grace in using a sinful and obstinate people as described throughout the Old Testament.

The K-Love Christian radio network once asked listeners to call in describing how God has shown them his extravagant love. Some answers were typical. Others, well, convicting is a good word:

• God providing finances for a brother and sister to go through college.
• A wife commenting on God’s gift of her husband.
• A young man praying through the night to be released from a drug addiction, only to find himself free of it in the morning.
• One young girl mentioned God’s extravagant love in giving her a disability.

Makes us think. How has God shown his extravagant love towards you?

Not of My Own Intelligence

For anyone who thinks they are pretty special for having a strong understanding and knowledge of the Bible, below can be a very humbling passage:

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17

The very fact that we have the ability to read Scripture and come to a proper understanding of it and thus a saving faith in the God who inspired it, based on this passage (and even the preceding verses), have no claim to their own ability to understand. It is indeed a gift given by God.

So whether you’re John Piper, D.A. Carson, Pastor Bob, or John Doe; whatever ability we have to understand Scripture, to come to saving faith in Christ, to mature through reading and study and prayer, to offer biblical counsel to others, all of it is ascribed to the good pleasure of God. He chose us, he opens our eyes and ears and hearts.

To God alone be the Glory, Honor, and Praise.