The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 22

Ver. 8.-Growing faith. In his former Epistle St. Paul congratulated the Tbest!a- lonians on the fruits of faith, love, and hope which he saw among them (1 'l'h888. i. 3), and he prayed for the increase of their love (1 These. iii. 12). Now he is thankful that their faith continues to grow, and that their mutual affection is full and overflowing. Let us consider the first of these two signs of progress. ( For the " increase of love,• see on 1 Thess. iii. 12.) I. THE SIGNS OF GROWING FAITH. Faith is an invisible spiritual grace. How, then, did St. Pan! know that it was increasing in the distant Church of the Thessalonians? We need not suppose that he possessed any supernatural insigl,t for reading the hearts of men. If faith grows the fruits of faith grow. A feeble faith makes a feeble life. When the whole heart is faint the whole head is sick (Isa. i. 5). Faith is always known by its works, and the health and vigour and stature of faith by the character and measure of Christian activity. Note some of the signs of growing faith. 1. Brighter cheerfulnesB. We are less distressed with doubt, have little torment of fear, bear present ills patiently, when we trust the goodness of God more fully. 2. Deeper devotion. Slight faith mean_s cold prayer. We are near to God just in proportion as we have faith in him. 3. Jt'uller activity. We work half-heartily when we believe half-hearledly. A strong trust in the grace of God gives a strong energy for doing the work of God. ,4. Warmer love. Faith worketh by love (Gal. v. 6). When we trust Christ more truly we feel the force of his love more deeply and love him more warmly in return, and then our love to Christ shows itself in love of the brethren. II. THE SECRET OF GROWING FAITH, ~'aith flows from the grace of God. It is a gift of God (Eph. ii. 8). Nevertheless, God is always willing to bestow this gift, and 011r reception of it depends on what we do. Faith will not grow without cultivation. Two most important truths, too often ignored, help us to tlhe secret. 1. Faith grc,ws by means of what it feeds on. This is in harmony with a law of all growth. Nothing can come from nothing. If a child is not fed it will die, certainly it will not grow. Grow- ing plants take nourishment from air and soil. Faith will not grow by our wishing it to grow, nor by any manipulation with it. Yet people, so to speak, take ont their faith and try to do something with it in order to improve it. The great rnistake is to think of increasing our faith by any consideration of the faith itself. We must forget our faith anrl look at Christ, and then our faith will grow unconsciously. \Ve have too much introspection. An intelligent consideration of the grounds of faith, especially a study of Christ, reading of Scripture, prayer, "means of grace," etc., help laith to grow. 2. Faith grO'IIJs by ea:ercise. This is also natural. Children need ell.ercise that their bodies may grow. Unused limbs shrink and shrivel up. The arm of the blacksmith is strong with work. The intellect grows by being employed. The torpi,I intellect becomes stupid. So faith must be used in order that it may grow. Instead of deploring our little faith, let us use it and it will grow larger. This is Christ's own advice; for when his disciples said, "Lord, increase our faith," instead of doing as they wished by a miracle, he almost rebuked them by saying that if they had fa.ith as small as a grain of mustard seed, even that when fully exercised would be enough to remove a mountain; and, like the seed which is a living thing, it would grow when planted. It is as foolish not to use our faith because it is small as it would be not to plant the :!0ed for a similar reason. Thus we keei, faith small. It mllllt be employed if it is to grow. -W.F.A. Ver, 6.-~ token of righteou, ;'udgment. St. Paul regards the patient eudurance of persecution by the Thessalonian Christians as "a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God." Here is one of those parmloxes of triumphant faith in which the apostle delighted. To the superficial observer the aspect of affairs told the very opposite story to that which St. Paul rca<l in it. Good men were persecuted, and they bore  20 THE SECOND EPlSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. [oH. 1.1-12.