Favor and Increase
Favor and Increase. I have heard those words many times, especially as we enter a new year and people are prophesying “favor and increase” over people’s lives for the New Year. We hear it all the time, on Christian TV, in conferences and churches, and even from well-meaning people.
But from where in scripture do they get that from? Do they really have a scriptural understanding of God’s favor?
Think about this:
- Daniel had God’s favor. He was thrown into the Lion’s Den.
- The three Hebrews had God’s favor. They were thrown into the fiery furnace.
- Jeremiah had God’s favor. He was rejected by nearly everyone.
- Elijah had God’s favor. He ran for his life from Jezebel.
- David had God’s favor. His father-in-law led an army to murder him.
- John the Baptist had God’s favor. He lived in the wilderness and was beheaded.
In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Greetings, favored woman. The Lord is with you!”
Mary was highly favored by God. She bore the Messiah into this world and raised Him as her earthly son. She was ridiculed, judged, ostracized, and could have been stoned to death according to Mosaic Law. Later, she had to endure the pain of watching her son be rejected in Nazareth and crucified in Jerusalem. Yet, she was highly favored.
Favor from God does not bring fame nor earthly increase. Ask the Apostles. God’s favor is not about earthly recognition, elevated appointments, or material blessings on this earth. God may choose to use those things to accomplish His purposes, but they do not signify the favor of God. His favor does not mean a lack or decrease of suffering or a life free from struggle and pain.
No, the favor of God is not the favor of man. The favor of man brings blessings and increase on earth. The favor of God brings eternal blessings and the increase of the kingdom of God.
Divine favor reveals that Almighty God has a divine purpose for someone’s life. He singled someone out and called him or her by name. He called out and said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (Isaiah 6:8).Isaiah heard this call as God spoke for the Trinity, and it changed his life and ministry.
In God’s grace, mercy, and divine providence, His purposes and presence will lead and follow those upon whom the Lord has placed His favor. He calls someone by name and empowers them from above for a divine purpose. That should be enough for us. We should not seek “favor and increase” on this earth. Rather, we should cry out as John the Baptist, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” (John 3:30). God has chosen us and placed His hand upon us. That is enough. More than enough.
The Greek word for “favor” in Luke 1:28 is charitóo. It is derived from the word cháris, which means “grace.” Charitóo denotes the impartation of grace to bring about unmerited acceptance and empowerment from God for a divine purpose. When cháris is received by faith, it transforms a man, causing him to seek after the righteousness of God. God bestowing favor – charitóo – is an act of unmerited grace (cháris) in the divine love and purpose of God. God sees what man often does not see and places His hand of favor on that person … by His grace for His divine purposes. Favor, therefore, is unmerited. Favor comes from grace. Favor is about us and God, and never about us and man.
The divine favor of God differs from the favor of man. The favor of man promotes in position and elevates in the eyes of people, often exalting the flesh. God can and will use favor with man to accomplish His purposes, but He does so only through humble servants intent on His purpose and His glory, servants who want to live in the shadow of the cross, servants who want to decrease like John the Baptist.
The lack of the favor of man does not mean there is no favor of God. The contrary is often true. Never judge yourself in that way. God chose you. Whether you are affirmed, accepted, and honored by man on this earth has no bearing on God’s favor in your life and should have no bearing on your identity in Christ. He is your Source and your Portion. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1 NLT).
Favor is an unmerited gift given through God’s grace. We cannot earn it. We can do nothing to gain it. But we must preserve it as the precious gift of grace that it is.
How do we preserve God’s favor in our lives? Through simple things: humility, obedience, faithfulness with little, placing the needs of others above our own, a heart of repentance, hunger and thirst for more of Jesus and the Word, compassion for the suffering, vision for the lost, and living a crucified life, humbly submitted to God.
Another word tied to cháris and charitóo is charisma from which comes charismata = the supernatural faculties and divine abilities bestowed upon His servants through the Holy Spirit and only by God’s grace operating in our lives. Charismata also comes from grace.
Paul speaks about charitóo in Ephesians 1:6, saying, “God has lavished His glorious charitóo – favor and grace – upon us who belong to His dear Son.”
The next time someone prophesies favor and increase, ponder what God’s favor really is and pray John’s prayer from John 3:30, “Lord, You must increase and I must decrease every day of my life.”
Follow up: John 3:30; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Luke 14:26-27; Hebrews 12:1-2; Luke 17:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-10.
