The importance of growing up

Mothers know that very small infants require milk not steak. However, as soon as a child is able, she will graduate him to pablum or fruit or something a bit more solid. If she does it too soon, the child cannot deal with it, but if she leaves it too long, the baby will suffer setback.

This is the language Paul uses as he writes to the immature Christians at Corinth:

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Corinthians 3:1–3)

In this and in other contexts, milk and solid food are contrasted:

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2–3)

When a person is newly born into the family of God, the ‘milk’ of God’s Word is vital to their spiritual growth. This applies only to those who know Jesus for without a relationship with Him, there is no life and no desire for this milk.

At one point, Jesus told His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." (John 16:12) He gave them milk (meaning the basic principles of the faith) but since they were still infants in their walk with Him, they were not ready for steak. The writer of Hebrews echoes this:

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12–14)

Those who first read this epistle had been Christians for awhile and should have been beyond the basics, but they were still acting like children. In their immaturity, they could not discern good from evil the way they should so were told they needed more of the basics until they grew up.

What is the difference between a babe and a mature Christian? Those verses in 1 Corinthians say that a babe is one who operates in the flesh and behaves like an unsaved person more of the time than he walks in the Spirit. This person lives more like he once did and is not consistent in living a Spirit-filled life. For the Christians at Corinth, this was identified in the way they fought and were jealous of one another.

There are many markers of babyhood. From my experience, I can identify some of them, such as not realizing my own immaturity. Full of milk, I’ve been content for short times without realizing that milk (knowledge) was not enough. I had to go for more solid stuff that only comes when obedience shows I’m ready for it.

Another marker is self-focus. A babe might interact with others but is mostly concerned about having his or her own needs met. I can be a baby in that way too.

A baby also wants its own way; ‘I want what I want when I want it.’ That impatience reveals the lack of an eternal perspective, a focus on this life only. Maturity is more concerned with eternal matters and becoming more like Jesus. A baby does not even think about those things, caring only for personal comfort, personal attention, and earning the smiles of those around them.

Tozer says that our Father wants me to prove in my life that all things written in His Word are true and that His words become a “new and living edition of flesh and blood” in me. This phrase is totally meaningless to a baby Christian. I have talked about being a good person while consuming milk, but the Author of life has far more to put on my plate.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I get it. The steak is sometimes called ‘heart’ knowledge compared to milk’s ‘head’ knowledge, but the meaning is the same. Knowing what You say is not the same as having all of it become part of the way I think, talk and live. Growing up is about feeding on You so that everything I do and say is done in total reliance upon You. Milk may produce some growth, but steak produces energy, muscle and the spiritual power of a grownup!

Working out my salvation involves working with others

Christians have tried living in monasteries or remote places so as to avoid sin and focus on God. It is also my tendency to think that I can more easily be a good Christian by myself, without the temptations that come through interaction with the world and dealing with people. However, this is not what God has in mind.

The Bible tells me to take care of my own interests, but also look to the interests of others. It says that I must have the mind of Christ Jesus, be humble and obedient, and develop my spiritual life.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

However, as today’s reading says, this development is not about studying how to be a good person. It is learning how to “come into the midst of the purposes of God and have the unspeakable privilege in these few years of doing something of His work” (Phillips Brooks). 

Serving God involves work and involves doing His work. This work starts with having Jesus Christ in my heart, but to be like Him is not a mere self-improvement project. Even though I’m not perfect and need to pay attention to my own spiritual life, the more I do that, the more I realize how imperfect I am. I will never reach that goal in this lifetime. I can keep the goal in mind, but His work is about doing. The next verses describe something of what He has in mind for my spiritual development.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:14–18)

Do all things. I’m as prone to grumbling and being disagreeable as anyone else, but even these forbidden attitudes are associated with an involvement with people. They do not happen in a vacuum. This blameless innocence and the Godlikeness God wants from me are likewise “in the midst” of my generation, not merely in the privacy of my own devotional life. 

Here at my desk, and in my home, I might run or labor, but the pronouns in this passage place its author with others. The “yous” are all plural. God’s intention is that my spiritual life and its development happen in community, involved with other Christians and involved with the world where I am to shine as His light.

All of this reminds me of the few times I’ve put gasoline in my car and overflowed the tank. Modern nozzles prevent that now, but in those days, that overflow was a total waste. The tank is meant to be filled with gas, then use that gas before filling it again. 

This same principle applies to the feeding of my soul. God intends that the truth He gives me changes and energizes my life, but unless I put it to work, it is spilled and wasted. Truth and light from God is intended to make me shine, not for my sake, but that I might give light to a crooked and twisted generation. 

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Lord, Phillips Brooks is right; serving You is an unspeakable privilege. Being invited to and allowed to do any part of Your work staggers my mind. All that You teach me is to make me more like Jesus, but this is not a passive thing. Jesus was glad and rejoiced with You, yet continually spent the resources You gave Him in the service of others. He was poured out in an offering of Himself to Your will. May I remember that the next time I’m tempted to stay holed up in my house to worship by myself, or to grumble about the work of serving others.