The concept of "lessened" in the Bible often relates to the idea of reduction, decrease, or diminishment, whether in terms of material wealth, spiritual fervor, or divine favor. This theme can be seen throughout Scripture, where God sometimes allows or causes a reduction in various aspects of life to fulfill His purposes or to bring about spiritual growth and dependence on Him.

Material Wealth and Possessions

In the Old Testament, the reduction of material wealth is sometimes depicted as a consequence of disobedience or as a test of faith. For instance, in the book of Job, Job experiences a dramatic lessening of his wealth and possessions as part of a divine test. Despite his losses, Job remains faithful, and his account illustrates the principle that material wealth is transient and that true riches are found in a relationship with God.

Spiritual Fervor and Commitment

The New Testament also addresses the concept of lessening, particularly in the context of spiritual fervor and commitment. In Revelation 2:4-5 , the church in Ephesus is admonished for having "forsaken the love you had at first." This lessening of love and devotion serves as a warning to believers to maintain their spiritual zeal and commitment to Christ.

Divine Favor and Blessing

The Bible also speaks of a lessening of divine favor as a result of sin and disobedience. In the history of Israel, periods of unfaithfulness often led to a reduction in God's blessings and protection. For example, during the time of the judges, Israel experienced cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Each cycle began with a lessening of divine favor due to the people's disobedience, followed by restoration when they turned back to God.

Humility and Dependence on God

The theme of lessening is also connected to the biblical principle of humility and dependence on God. John the Baptist exemplifies this in John 3:30 , where he states, "He must increase; I must decrease." This acknowledgment of the need for Christ to be exalted above oneself is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility and the recognition of God's sovereignty.

Conclusion

The concept of "lessened" in the Bible serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly possessions, the importance of maintaining spiritual fervor, the consequences of disobedience, and the call to humility and dependence on God. Through these lessons, believers are encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all other things will be added unto them (Matthew 6:33).(imp. & p. p.) of Lessen.2820. chasak -- to withhold, refrain
... Usage hold them back (1), hold back (2), keep back (1), keeps back (1), kept (1),
kept their in check (1), kept back (1), lessen (1), lessened (1), refrain (1 ...
/hebrew/2820.htm - 6k

The Same Argument, Namely, that Blessedness is not Lessened or ...
... Book II. Chapter IV. The same argument, namely, that blessedness is not
lessened or added to by external matters? The same argument ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iv the same argument.htm

Of God, and that the one God, and by Whose Providence the World is ...
... But that which is lessened is plainly mortal; but if He is not mortal,
He can neither be lessened nor divided. Therefore there is ...
/.../a treatise on the anger of god addressed to donatus/chap xi of god and that.htm

Psalm LXVII.
... He is not increased by our blessing, nor is He lessened by our cursing. He
that curseth the Lord, is himself lessened: he that blesseth ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxvii.htm

Of the Soul and the Body, and of their Union and Separation and ...
... He says, since the understanding increases in boys, and is vigorous in young men,
and is lessened in the aged, it is evident that it is mortal. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xii of the soul and.htm

Epistle xv. To John, Bishop.
... Lest, however, thou shouldest suppose that I wish thy church to be depressed or
lessened in dignity, remember where the deacon of Ravenna used to stand in ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xv to john bishop.htm

Whether Our Atmosphere is the Demons' Place of Punishment?
... Consequently, it must be said that, although a heavenly place belongs to the glory
of the angels, yet their glory is not lessened by their coming to us, for ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether our atmosphere is the.htm

Whether a Habit is Corrupted or Diminished through Mere Cessation ...
... 2], ad 3;[1483] Q[50], A[1]). But passion-like qualities are neither corrupted nor
diminished by cessation from act: for whiteness is not lessened through not ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a habit is corrupted.htm

Whether the Demons' Intellect is Darkened by Privation of the ...
... the gift of wisdom. Of these three kinds of knowledge the first was neither
taken away nor lessened in the demons. For it follows ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the demons intellect is.htm

Whether There Should have Been Man Ceremonial Precepts?
... Further, the ceremonial precepts referred to the outward and bodily worship of God,
as stated above [2106](A[2]). But the Law should have lessened this bodily ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there should have been.htm

Eldad and Medad
... the seventy elders." Some conclude from this statement that, as a punishment for
his intemperate prayer, the wisdom of Moses was thus lessened, while others ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/eldad and medad.htm

Lessened (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lessened (2 Occurrences). Exodus 5:11 Go yourselves and
get dry stems wherever you are able; for your work is not to be any less. ...
/l/lessened.htm - 7k

Lessen (4 Occurrences)
... to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude
of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened. ...
/l/lessen.htm - 7k

Lesser (7 Occurrences)

/l/lesser.htm - 8k

Sleep (136 Occurrences)
... functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational
soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of ...
/s/sleep.htm - 38k

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)
... The evidence of Josephus, a contemporary and himself a Pharisee, is lessened in
value by the fact that he modified his accounts of his people to suit the taste ...
/p/pharisees.htm - 66k

Brook (75 Occurrences)
... words. And even if the elimination of all mistakes be attributed to one person,
a final editor, the difficulty is scarcely lessened. ...
/b/brook.htm - 45k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... 1. Meaning of Terms: There was originally a sharp distinction between classical
and oriental costume, but this was palpably lessened under the cosmopolitanism ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Egypt (596 Occurrences)
... words. And even if the elimination of all mistakes be attributed to one person,
a final editor, the difficulty is scarcely lessened. ...
/e/egypt.htm - 101k

Star (16 Occurrences)
... This difficulty, which would be even greater in the case of a star, would be lessened
by looking down the well, as the shaft would narrow the field of view ...
/s/star.htm - 29k

Predestination
... The past few decades have witnessed a lessened interest in this doctrine, largely
because of the increasingly ethical conceptions of Deity. 11. ...
/p/predestination.htm - 26k

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