The apostle Paul assured the Thessalonians that they had learned how to walk pleasing before the Lord. “You received from us how you ought to walk and to please God” (1Thessalonians 4:1). Paul had begun with this exhortation: “That you should abound more and more” (same verse).
To abound means to increase. Paul was saying, “You’ve been sitting under sound gospel preaching so you have a solid foundation beneath you. Therefore, you ought to be increasing in grace in all things — in your faith, your knowledge, your love.”
Paul also spoke of such abounding to the Corinthians: “As you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). In other words, “God’s Spirit has wrought major changes in your life. Therefore, you ought to be giving more of yourself in all ways — in your time, your finances, your talents.”
These passages make it clear that everyone who has been fed God’s Word is expected to grow in grace. God has endowed gifts to pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists for the express purpose of causing his church to grow. And we, as believers, are expected to increase in knowledge and grow in him so that we are not carried away by any false things.
Jesus himself speaks of a constant increase in our lives: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Proverbs echoes this: “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). And even Job declares, “The righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9).
The promises of God are yours today! He wants you to have a constant increase of faith, hope, love and giving in your life.