Abounding Love – audio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Some things you just can’t have too much of:

• Ice cream.
• College football.
• Precious kisses from your baby son or daughter.

Of course Paul was not talking about any of those things in Philippians 1, though I doubt he would disagree with me.

Here’s what he says:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9–11)

Our English translations struggle to communicate Paul’s emphatic language in this passage:

• “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more . . .” (NRSV)
• “I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more . . .” (GNB)
• “That your love may abound more and more . . .” (ESV)

The verb “abound” itself is strong, meaning “to be present in abundance,” and the way Paul uses it here means “to keep on abounding”. But then he adds this phrase: “still more and more” (though most translations leave the “still” out).

He could’ve prayed that our love might abound, or that it might “abound more.” If he wanted to add a little more emphasis, he could have asked that it “abound more and more.”

But that wasn’t good enough, so he asked for their love to “abound still more and more.”

I think what he’s telling us is clear: you can’t have too much love.

• Ever felt like your spouse loved you too much?
• Have your kids ever loved you too much?
• Ever felt there was too much love in your life?

Probably not, and Paul says he prays that our love will just keep on growing.

If you’re married, he’s asking God to multiply your love for your spouse.

If you’ve got kids, he wants you to love them more every day.

And of course, ultimately, most importantly, he’s praying that we’ll abound in love for God as we mature in faith that we’ll be obsessively in love with Jesus, that we’ll love the Spirit of God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Paul is praying for something huge for you and me.

And it’s what I’m praying for you as we study together tonight, and what I hope you’re praying for me as well.

Let’s be ridiculously, extraordinarily, overwhelmingly in love with our God.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)