Growth Suicide

Many times, we place the roof on our lives for personal and spiritual growth. God wants to bless us, and we can do much, but we quench God’s work and stunt our own growth. Below are some ways we commit growth suicide in our own lives:
 
1. Receiving Correction

Proverbs 1:5; 9:8-9; 12:1

How you accept correction reveals your maturity. Correction never feels good, and no one really enjoys it, but it’s pretty arrogant to think you’ll never need to be corrected.

The temptation is to dismiss correction when it comes your way. For example, if someone confronts you about being nicer to your spouse, spending more time with your children, not being angry, or needing to pay attention more, it’s easy to get upset instead of heeding the correction. You might think or say, “Well, they shouldn’t have told me like that.” Or, “They have no right to tell me.” Or, “They could’ve waited until later.” It doesn’t matter what the excuse is; the fact remains that if you don’t take correction well, you’ll never grow or improve in your life. If you walk away from the needed correction, it’s like committing growth suicide. You will have no one to teach or correct you, and as a result, you won’t grow.
 
Stagnation 

What are you doing to continue growing, both spiritually and in the areas God has given you? It is easy to become complacent, but you must continue to grow.

Are you reading your Bible? Are you learning to become a better preacher, husband, dad, or missionary? 

You can read books about the areas in which you want to improve. You can ask questions of those ahead of you, or you can observe the lives of others. Determine to improve and grow in your own life. Decide you won’t commit growth suicide and begin growing once again. 
 
Taking Offense 

• All of us are guilty of being sensitive and taking things too personally, whether we admit it or not. 
• Learn to not be offended easily — Psalms 119:165 
• Matthew 18:6-7 — READ. In this world, offenses will come, but woe unto him that causes the offense. Don’t be the one causing offense. But know they will come. 
• To not be offended: 
  • Turn cheek. 
  • Love thinks no evil (1 Corinthians 13:15)
  • Justify or make an excuse for the other person. Everyone has a bad day; they might be feeling sick, or they may have misunderstood. Give them an out. 
  • Learn to ignore or act as if you don’t hear — purposely play dumb or don’t pay attention. 
  • Don’t hold grudges because bitterness will set in. 
  • Forgive daily (70x7 — Matthew 18:22. As Christ forgave you — Ephesians 4:32). Keep short accounts, don’t let them add up

4. Accountability 

• Accountability is not for the weak; we all need accountability! 
• This has nothing to do with a trust issue, liberty, or legalism. Be wise, don’t trust yourself. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says you should take heed lest ye fall. 
• Be accountable to others. If you know others will see your text, you might not say certain things. If you face your computer to the open part of the room, you might not be tempted to look at certain things. If you’re not alone with the opposite sex, very likely you will avoid being in a situation you shouldn’t be in. 

5. False Public Persona 

• If you take care of your private life, you’ll never have to worry about your public life. 
• Your family or friends (the ones you live with) know who you really are. 
• Your private life either strengthens or weakens your public life.