“The law of diminishing returns” – It argues that there are some things that negatively respond to investment… the more you invest in time, effort and money in those things, the less that is received in return. …Not a law you want to participate in and expect “return on investment!
”This “law” works in Spiritual things as well… I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” in Romans 6:15-23. It’s frankly a “scary” law and leads to greater and greater degrees of bondage. It works like this… the more you yield to what your “flesh” (the natural self under the control of sin) wants to do, the greater the degree of bondage and slavery to sin. It is counterproductive – It promises freedom, but delivers bondage!
But there is another “law” that works for devoted, obedient followers of Jesus… I call it the “law of increasing devotion.” It works this way… the more you respond positively and act upon the Holy Spirit’s promptings to please God (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s “nudge”), the greater the grace of God you experience, and your devotion for Christ increases!” Your “return on investment” is positive – it leads to greater and greater Spiritual victory!
Here it is in the words of Apostle Paul…
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness… Having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness! … Just as you once presented your members [the parts of your body] as slaves to impurity and too lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so not present you members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification… Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (From Romans 6:15-23 ESV)
Listen, I’ve tried both laws and they work – one is negative, the other is positive! I can tell what law I want working day by day – hour by hour – in my life! I want it to be the “law of increasing devotion!” I want nothing to do with the “law of diminishing returns!” Every “nudge” of the Holy Spirit that prompts me to do what pleases God is an opportunity for greater and greater victory and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and abounding grace!
Coffee With The Lord 