To increase is to become bigger in size or amount. God desires to see every one of us increase or become bigger. Indeed, there is nothing wrong with increasing but there are inherent dangers that we must all strive to escape or avoid.
1. Lightly esteeming the Rock of our salvation
One of the dangers we must avoid is the temptation to lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation when we increase and wax kicked.
This is the first trap you must avoid. The temptation to lightly esteem the Rock of your salvation
[Deuteronomy 32:15 KJV] “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: Thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; Then he forsook God which made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”
(Ref: Deut 32:1-20)
The Bible teaches that God found Israel wandering a howling desert and led him alone to the promised land; he fed him with royal dainty until Israel became strong and kicked; but when Jeshurun increased and waxed kicked, he became proud and wayward. He treated lightly the Rock of his salvation.
When increase comes; we are likely to esteem lightly the Rock of our salvation. I pray that you will escape this trap. I pray that you will not fall into such a trap. I pray that you will not be puffed up. It very easy not to esteem nor value the Rock of your salvation.
2. The danger of choosing to be separated from your “Abraham”
Your Abraham is the man on whose promise and covenant you became blessed. Abraham was the one God called and he took Lot along. Abraham is the man by whom Lot become blessed but when Lot increased, his herdsmen began to strive with Abraham. Instead of Lot calling them to order, he rather chose to be separated from Abraham.
[Genesis 13:5-12 KJV] “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.”
“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.”
“Is not the whole land before the
thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.”
“Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
Lot eventually lost everything because when he separated he chose to live near Sodom and Gomorrah.
3. The danger of thinking that your might have gotten you wealth
The third danger of increasing is to think that your own might have gotten you this wealth. It is a danger but always remembers that it is the Lord that gave you the strength to make wealth and to increase.
[Deuteronomy 8:10-18 KJV] “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;”
“and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water;”
“who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
I pray for you that you will remember that it is the Lord that gives you the power to make an increase; it is not by might nor by power.
Stay blessed
