by Jeffrey Bush
As I was growing up, my pastor consistently repeated his favorite Bible verse from the pulpit. Since repetition is the mother of all learning, my pastor was very effective in causing the flock to meditate on the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:58. The verse commands Christians to “always abound” in the work of the Lord. Continual growth should be part of a Christian’s life. Allow me to offer a few areas in which a child of God should be continually growing:
1. Emotional Growth
According to Proverbs 16:32b, “he that ruleth his spirit (is better) than he that taketh a city.” To further validate the principle of controlling one’s spirit, Proverbs 25:28 says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” The conclusion is that controlling one’s emotions strengthens an individual, whereas not controlling one’s emotions makes one vulnerable to attack and destruction.
A child of God should master their emotions and not be mastered by them. Thank the Lord for feelings; we would be rather bland without them. However, though feelings are good, life should not be navigated by our feelings. A child of God walks by faith, not by sight or emotions. Sadness, anger, and weariness have their place, but they should be subject to the individual instead of controlling the individual. A child of God should strive to grow in their emotional life.
2. Spiritual Growth
According to James 4:8, God’s Word says you should “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” And Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Ask yourself the honest question, “Am I growing in my spiritual life?” God wants to draw nigh to you, and He will fill you. It lies on you to determine to grow in your spiritual walk with Him.
3. Relational Growth
Growing in your relationships with others has much more to do with your efforts than it does with the efforts of others. According to Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.” Do not wait for someone else to say hello, say thank you, smile, wave, or begin a conversation. Decide to take the initiative and be the first to reach out. Pray for others, love others, help others, and be kind to others. Grow in your relationships.
4. Academic Growth
After King Solomon says it’s better to sharpen an axe than use brute strength, he says, “Wisdom is profitable to direct” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Though you should be willing to work hard, you should also learn to work smarter. There are books people have written about how to succeed in any given area. There are podcasts, audio, lessons, and videos made to teach someone instead of learning by trial and error. You will not live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, so be wise and grow in the areas of your life that are needed. Proverbs 1:5 teaches, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Whether you read, hear, watch, or speak to someone, you are determined to increase your learning.
It’s been said that insanity is trying the same thing repeatedly while expecting different results. Regardless of the area, growth is required if you desire improvement. You don’t have to plateau or stagnate in your life; you can decide to grow!
