“Spiritual
Growth On A Stopwatch”
Jarrod Jacobs
We are familiar with passages which stress the fact
that our time on earth is limited (Ecc. 9:5). Solomon
wrote, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1). In the New Testament, James wrote by inspiration: “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is
even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and
then vanisheth away” (Jas. 4:14).
Knowing
our time on earth is limited, it should not be surprising to read passages
which emphasize making our lives right with God while we have the time and
opportunity. In II Corinthians 6:2, the apostle Paul wrote, “… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation” In addition to this, we read, “Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts...” (Heb. 3:7-8). These and other Holy Scriptures urge us to make sure we
are Christians now, and make sure we make proper choices while we have “today”
and “now”. We have no “lease” on life, thus the need for urgency in becoming a
Christian when we have the opportunity.
At
the same time, we read such passages as, “Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2). This passage is clear that
one who is preaching must exercise patience as he preaches to others. Perhaps
he is going to have to preach on a subject more than one time in order for
people to comprehend and do what God expects. What do you think? Just as a
parent needs patience in instruction in the home, so also a preacher needs
patience in showing others the truth. Further, we see that “patience” is considered by God to be a
part of the fruit of the spirit (II Pet. 1:6). God intends for His children to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ” (II Pet. 3:8). Jesus said “come” and “learn” of Him (Matt. 11:28-29). No
doubt this “learning” takes time!
While
we are aware of the fact that folks can hear one sermon, believe one sermon,
and obey one sermon, as did so many in the book of Acts; growing and learning
spiritually takes time, doesn’t it? If not, then why the distinction between
the “novice” (I Tim.
3:6), or a “babe” in Christ
(I Pet. 2:2; I Cor. 3:1) and one who is mature (Heb. 5:14) or “spiritual” (I Cor. 3:1; Gal. 6:1)? If no
time for growth is necessary, then one could grow from “carnal” to “spiritual” in a matter of moments! Yet,
this is not the case, is it? It takes time and patience as folks grow in the
Lord. So, which is it? How do we reconcile the passages emphasizing “urgency”
in bringing folks to Christ with the passages which stress the need for being
patient with people as they grow and mature?
In
truth, there is no contradiction. God is speaking about two different aspects
of one’s spiritual life. On the one hand, we see the need for making sure we
are Christians, forgiven of our sins. This should be done without delay because
we do not know what might happen during the course of a day (Acts 2:38, 22:16,
16:33; Prov. 27:1). Without obedience to the Lord’s plan for salvation, we are
lost, spiritually dead while we live, and are bound for a devil’s hell. We must
do everything we can to escape the clutches of Satan and get out of his kingdom
and into the
Sadly,
we find some Christians who grow impatient with their brethren. They leave
folks with the impression that they expect them to have grown to the same point
that they are even when they may not have been a Christian for the same amount
of time. This is a mistake, and shows a certain amount of immaturity on the
part of one who should be mature! We ought not expect
someone to mature in five minutes to the degree that required five years of us!
Christians are at different places in their spiritual growth, and this is
understood by God. It ought to be understood by us. At any assembling of the
saints, we will see folks who are “babes in
Christ”, still struggling with issues that others
have conquered (I Cor. 3:1). We will see those who have matured some beyond
that point, all the way to the spiritually mature, such as are described in
such passages as Galatians 6:1. This is a wonderful thing, and there is no sin
or shame associated with being at different points in spiritual growth. In
fact, the chapters of Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8 are directed toward the
interaction the strong (“spiritual”?) Christian has toward the weak (“babe”?)
Christian. The strong shows patience toward the weak (Rom.
15:1), but at the same time, the weak needs to continue to grow so that he can
be mature (II Pet. 3:18). Again, there is no sin or shame associated
with being a babe in Christ who is trying to learn and overcome the struggles
he has in his life. Too, the strong Christian ought to be patient as he sees a
fellow brother or sister trying to learn and mature. He was once in that very
same position! Where is our patience today?
While
it is clear that those who are immature need time to grow, where problems are
seen is when Christians refuse to grow! For example, the Hebrews
were chastised for their failure to grow. Read carefully the words of Hebrews
5:12-14. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need
of milk, and not of strong meat. For every
one that useth milk is unskillfull
in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Notice
the Hebrew Christians were not chastised for not growing as fast as some other
Christians. They were not compared to the Ephesians, Colossians, or any other
group or individual Christian. It is not wise to compare ourselves with others
in that way (II Cor. 10:12). Rather, the reason the Hebrews
were chastised was due to their failure to grow at all! Yes, just as in
physical growth, some people grow faster than others, spiritually. Unlike
physical growth, though, spiritual growth is a CHOICE we make, and evidently
for a time, the Hebrew Christians chose not to grow. Brethren, let us have
patience with ourselves and with one another as we mature in the Lord! We do
ourselves no favors; we do no one else any favors when we put people on the
proverbial “stopwatch”, either expecting our spiritual growth to come
instantaneously, or expecting others to grow at the same rate we did, or to
“catch up” with us in a short time!
Conclusion
If
someone joined a health club, or if he showed an interest in music and wanted
to play music with others, or joined some other group where he was to be around
folks of varying talents and abilities; that person is generally shown patience
as he “catches up,” learns, and gains experience that the other people already
have. Why can we not show that same understanding and patience toward our
brethren? The older brethren are to “be sober,
grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience” (Titus 2:1). Where are these men today? The servant of the Lord “must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (II Tim. 2:24). Are we acting as the Lord’s servants? The man of God
is to “follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, meekness” (I Tim.
6:11). Where are these men (and women) of God? Being patient is a qualification
of elders in a congregation (I Tim. 3:3). In fact, it ought to be evident in
the lives of every Christian (I Thess. 5:14). This is our point in this
article!
It
is high time we stopped putting people’s spiritual growth on a “stopwatch” and
in love and concern figured out where people are in their lives and helped them
to grow. As a result of this kind of patience and care, not only will we see
growth in the “babes in Christ,” but mature Christians will grow stronger as
well.