May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

I have a confession to make. For years now I’ve had a secret, largely unspoken obsession with Tiny Houses. I first learned of the Tiny House movement back around the turn of the century. I read an article about a man and his Tiny House and something connected and attached itself to my soul. I have a million Tiny Houses pinned on a Pinterest board. Some of my favorites are the ones that double as houseboats. Wendy will tell you that I avoid Home Improvement and DIY shows like the bubonic plague. Then the other week I stumbled across a show (on Disney+ of all places) about people building and transitioning their lives into Tiny Houses. Wendy came home and immediately asked, “What are you watching?”

In today’s chapter, we learn about Paul’s movements after hastily leaving Thesslonica as his presence sparked riots in the city. It’s interesting to read this chapter along with Acts 17, as this letter fits hand-and-glove into the events of that chapter. Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the fledgling disciples there. Timothy had just returned with a good report that the believers were standing firm in their faith despite the persecution. That report is what has prompted this letter, and Paul describes his longing to return and visit his Thessalonian friends.

As the chapter ends, Paul writes a prayer that the Thessalonian’s love would increase to overflowing for one another, and to others. As I meditated on this in the quiet this morning, I asked myself this question, “Based on my words and behavior, what do I want to increase in my life?”

Money in my 401K?
“Likes” and influence on social media?
Crypto?
Pens in my collection?
Vehicles?
Clothes in my closet?
Time to relax?
Sleep?
Travel?
Single malts on the bar downstairs?
Square feet in my house?
Acres of land?
Assets in my portfolio?

I think in our world and culture, our hearts and minds are wired to hear “increase” and immediately think of the stuff of this world. It’s hard not to do so given the way we have been shaped by our world and the experience of living in this world. However, Jesus calls His disciples to, as Bob Dylan aptly put it, “Change My Way of Thinkin’.”

Paul is exemplifying this for his Thessalonian brothers and sisters, simply by writing this letter. And, he is urging them to follow his example. Increase your love. Increase love to the point of overflowing to every person you interact with in life every day. That’s Level Four Kingdom of God thinking. It’s Kingdom of God priorities, and it differentiates a disciple of Jesus from a person who is living only for this Level Three world.

In the quiet this morning, I keep returning to the “Fruit of the {God’s} Spirit” that increases as I grow and mature in my spirit and in my relationship with Jesus:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Gentleness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Self-Control

These are what I want to increase to the point of overflowing in my life. As for all the rest of the stuff in my life, I find myself wanting it to diminish. I don’t think I’ll ever live in a Tiny House (at least, not as long as Wendy is alive), but whatever soul connection I feel to the idea of diminishing the things of this world that I have to store, maintain, keep up, clean, and fix is something I want to lean into. At the same time, what I want to increase in the rest of my earthly journey is love.

Now, God, I pray “Please help my behavior match my heart.”

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.