Called to Grow !
God expects us to grow (that is, increase). Everything with life should grow.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
The Bible calls us to grow in Hebrews 5:12-14 – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Jesus offers an example about growth in Luke 2:52 – “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and in favour with God and men”
Jesus grew in four areas:-
i. In wisdom – Intellectual growth
ii. In stature – Physical growth
iii. In favour with God – Spiritual growth
iv. In favour with men – Social & Emotional Growth.
**Spiritual growth is a part of a larger process, not an isolated concern, but should be integrated with the others**
a. Intellectual Growth:
– Do not fill your mind with garbage: Jesus spent time in the temple learning, asking questions and teaching.
– Maintain a consistent study and reading program.
– Enroll in continuing education courses to improve not only in content but in skills e.g. Bible study
Teaching: In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul charges Timothy – “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
b. Physical Growth:
– Having proper control over your body: is your body under control?
– Having proper control over your diet, exercise and rest.
***Overfeeding and being overweight is equally damaging like drunkenness**
What the Bible says about self control in Proverbs 25:28: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls”
Physical growth refers to the degree in which the systems of the body have developed relative to chronological growth/age
(Chronological Growth: Refers to the measurement of time a person has lived in years – i.e. Age)
c. Social Growth:
– Who do you have in terms of friends?
– The Bible talks of friendship: 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be mislead (deceived), bad company corrupts good character (morals).
– Enrich your circle of friends: who know you and accept you as you are, and criticizes you positively, and calling you to grow.
**Social growth compares social development with chronological age – “Does this person relate as well socially as he should for his age?”
d. Emotional Growth
– Compares emotional maturity with chronological age – Asks, “Does this person handle his emotions as well as he should for his age?”
Examples of volatile emotions: Explosive behaviour, temper tantrums, low frustration tolerance, oversensitivity, inability to take criticism, unreasonable jealousy, unwillingness to forgive, unpredictable mood swings, over- dependency and egocentricity Examples of emotional maturity: Ability to face reality and deal with it and viewing life experiences as learning experiences.
**The immature curses the ‘rains’, while the mature sells umbrellas**
**The immature blame or attack other, while the mature attack the problems**
e. Spiritual Growth:
– Growing and changing as we understand God’s word
– 2 Peter 3:18: “Growing in the GRACE & KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
– Luke 6:40: “Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
– Paul as an old man nearing his death said in Philippians 3:13- 14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the GOAL to WIN the PRIZE for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”