An old hymn circles through my mind periodically these days, “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater…” Do you know this song? I like it a lot because it reinforces some basic truths in Scripture on living in a Christ-like way, which is never possible in my own strength. Whether I respond (incorrectly) to the burdens or (correctly) to His grace, either way life is a challenge. Even though I say I want to please Christ, I seem to rarely get it right.
Curiously, the refrain in this hymn changes directions. Instead of an emphasis on my labors, my afflictions, my trials, my resources, the author points to the path where an inexhaustible wealth is freely available. Like one beggar asking another beggar whose arms are filled with fresh food and new clothes, we ask, “Where?,” all the while hoping we won’t be told, “Wouldn’t you like to know!” Here it is:
“His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”
The Israelites on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem asked the “where?” question like this, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?” Answering, they would sing, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). The Lord is our keeper (protector) and our preserver, to name two among many other divine provisions we could list.
David picturesquely answered “where?” when he learned how completely all-sufficient God is for each one of us. David, in his shepherd psalm, summed up his response to this extravagant treasure into one Hebrew word, “I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1b).
I did not realize until after Pastor Rigsby preached on Proverbs 6 that Solomon used in a negative sense the same word as David’s “I shall not want.” Solomon told his son that the enemy in verse 32 would destroy his soul because he “lacked” understanding. That he lacked meant he was in a condition of continuing want or need. We might say he was completely destitute, without help, without hope.
What Solomon’s son needed is what the Israelites wanted is what David had is what can be ours, too. He is Jesus. Jesus is our Father’s full giving out of His infinite riches. Jesus is who Rehoboam lacked. Jesus is who Israel said they desired. Jesus is who David possessed. Jesus is infinite riches in limitless love, measureless grace, and unbounded power.
Who could ask for anything more? It doesn’t matter. You can’t, because after Jesus, there isn’t more.
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