“He gave a mighty shout: ‘Babylon is fallen – that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.’” (Revelation 18:2-3 NLT)
Everyone longs for something. When we’re young we long for satisfaction that we perceive will only come through sex, money, popularity, fame, fortune, or achievement on a level that will gain us recognition and acclaim. As we age our longing may be for a nap or a full night’s sleep; a call from a loved one or someone to hold us and let us know our life matters to someone.
Extravagance is relative on some levels. A trip to White Castle was an extravagance for us when my pregnant wife was craving them, though back then you could buy a bag of the small burgers for a dollar. We tend to think of extravagance in terms of dollars and cents, but as Jesus followers we need to shift our thinking to view extravagant ways we can share the love of our Savior.
Nothing compares to the cost our Savior paid on the Cross! He’s the only One who could have done what He did, yet He was willing to lay down His sinless life in our place to offer us a hope we could never have found in any other way. What kind of love offers Himself in the place of another who hasn’t even asked for His sacrifice?
Bob Goff wrote: “Every act of extravagant love is a declaration of faith.” Do you want to know how to make your faith recognizable? Love without reservation! Genuinely care about the needs of others ahead of your own. We do this with our children, why can’t we allow this kind of love to flow beyond the walls of our own homes?
So much wealth is wasted on filth and debauchery, why can’t we spare a few dollars to take someone who is struggling to lunch or take them a meal to their home, even if it means we have to do without? What if we offered to babysit the child of a couple of new parents and gave them money to go out to eat and maybe even to a movie?
Why as God’s children have we become so stingy with our time and money? What makes us believe it is OUR time or OUR money? The Lord gives us everything we have, and we are stewards of 100% of it. We whine about having to give 10% back to Him, but the truth is, if it weren’t for the Lord’s generosity we wouldn’t have a penny.
The Lord gives us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and the other fruit of the Spirt, but why? So, we can hoard it all to ourselves. Love gives! Love shares! Love lightens loads! Love thinks of the other person first! Love hugs! Love cries on another’s shoulder! Love holds and consoles! Love cares and shows itself!
What is the Lord laying on your heart to do for someone, maybe anonymously, that will demonstrate an extravagant way to celebrate the love the Lord has lavished on you? Do you have a car you no longer need? Give it to someone who needs one? Has the Lord blessed you with some extra funds? Pay someone’s rent or mortgage this month? Maybe take someone to the grocery. There’s no end to the ways we can love extravagantly if we’ll just listen to His voice!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 