Focus: Two-way Addition (Pt.1)

Text: Prov.3:2

"For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."

Going through the Scriptures I see that there is a two-way arithmetic of addition which concerns both God and man. God adds; man also adds. But there's a remarkable difference between what God adds to and what man adds to.

Let's begin with God.

Our text says that the law of God will add "length of days, and long life, and peace" to those who obey it. God will prolong the life of those who keep His laws. Hezekiah called on God to extend his life. He said to God, "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore" (Isa.38:3). He called on God as one who walked in the truth of God and served God with a perfect heart, and God heard his prayer. God instantly said to Isaiah, "Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will ADD unto thy days fifteen years" (Isa.38:5). God alone adds life to those who fear Him and obey His word.

The apostles of Christ once said to Him, "INCREASE our faith" (Lk.17:5). The Greek word for 'increase' is translated several times in the New Testament as 'add.' So the apostles prayed the Lord to add to their faith. They prayed for higher, greater or stronger faith - qualitative and quantitative faith.

Rachel gave birth to her first son and called his name Joseph. Her reason for the choice of name was: "The LORD shall ADD to me another son" (Gen.30:24). God is the God of addition. He gives children and multiplies them. God added Benjamin to Rachel.

Nebuchadnezzar testified after recovering his senses, "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was ADDED unto me" (Dan.4:36). God adds glory to an already existing one. He humbles as well as honors His subjects. He makes us rise from one level of glory to another.

We read concerning the church in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were ADDED unto them about three thousand souls" (Act.2:41). In verse 47 we read, "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord ADDED to the church daily such as should be saved" (Act.2:47). God adds saved souls to the church. He is the God of numerical growth - saved souls. 

We preach, but God alone saves. We evangelize, but God alone saves.

The Lord Jesus Christ says to us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be ADDED unto you" (Mt.6:33). All we need do is seek first the kingdom of God; then God will add to us the basic necessities of life. 

God is into the arithmetic of addition. He adds life to those who love Him. He adds glory to those who learn the lessons of humility. He adds saved souls to His church. He adds basic necessities to those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. He adds children to those who yearn for more. He adds to our faith and makes it stronger. Watch out for your God - the God of addition. He will add blessings upon blessings to your life.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter