The Law of Increase
“Most people are far too much occupied with themselves to be malicious.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV
The fastest expanding object in our Universe is not the Universe; it is you. It is me. It is self. Left unchecked, self will increase to the point that little room is left for anyone or anything else. This ever-expanding object is known as our our ego. We tend to edge out those around us, but not just others - EGO could stand for Edge God Out. Here in America, we have fed this monster. As our egos have increased, our culture has become intoxicated with self.
In case you question this, just think about the evolution of our cultural magazines. The year was 1883 and Life Magazine was introduced to the world. We loved this magazine because life is what is important. Life is what we all wanted, and frankly, life is what we all deserve. Well, that was until 1923 when People Magazine landed on every newsstand. Makes sense, right? Because people are more important than life. And life is about people; life is for people. Are you sensing the increase? In 1977, the American ego was fed again when introduced to Us Magazine. After all, life is really about us, not people. Life became People and People expanded to just Us. The expansion continued.
The Law of Increase gained speed as it only took two more years to become crystal clear that is was never about Life, People of Us. The first issue of Self Magazine flew off the presses in 1979. Self is what ultimately matters. Self is sovereign. Self is superior. Just enough space on the shelf left for self. Me, myself, and I . . . the blessed Trinity.
John the Baptist, the greatest man to ever live, according to Jesus, gave it to us straight. In John 3:30 he said, looking at Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Law of Increase must be addressed. Following Jesus means there can only be one Lord in the relationship. Who is expanding at a faster rate in your life, Jesus or you? The next time you battle the increasing self, stop and think, then picture Jesus walking towards John. John’s first thought was, "I am way too big and he is way too small. This must be fixed and fixed immediately."
How does Jesus increase in you? Just by thinking how awful you are? No, self-deprecation is not the solution. Nobody wants to hang with Eeyores. You see, Jesus increases when those around you, even the least of these, increase in your life . . . when you choose another over self . . . when you regard another’s preference over yours. It’s the attitude and the action of “you first.” Ponder for a moment the last time you let another choose the restaurant, the place to vacation, the color of the room, or how to spend that bonus. You get the point. Can you remember the last time you deferred to another? Remember, the way to battle the Law of Increase is not thinking less of yourself, but choosing to think of yourself less.
Here is a good life rule: inflate your tires, not yourself. A “you first” attitude deflates the Law of Increase. When others increase, then Jesus is taking on the right size.
Commit to checking yourself daily.
