Part of what makes babies adorable is their helplessness. They can do little more than scrunch their eyes when the light is too bright, wiggle when they’re cold and, of course, cry when they’re hungry. Doting mothers relish this time of life, instinctively smiling as they gaze at the strengthless child secured against her body.
While it’s a blessing to care for a powerless infant, it ceases to be so when they’re older. A child who acts helpless when he is perfectly capable of turning off the light, pulling up his own blanket or grabbing himself a snack is not cute. There is a world of difference between an infant that requires the care of others to remain safe and healthy and a grown child that makes the same demands.
Spoiled children grow to become entitled adults. Their life pattern is to expect others to do for them what they could do for themselves. Sadly, this phenomenon is observable among many Christians. After repenting of sin and placing one’s faith in Jesus a person is, as Scripture says, “born again.” In his Christian infancy he may be unfamiliar with the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, study and memorization. He may be inexperienced in private prayer, unpracticed in godly living and unacquainted with sacrificial service to others within the church.
In Christian infancy this is not unexpected. But like human development, an ongoing dependence on others over an extended period of time is not endearing. However, unlike the human growth process, a lack of maturity in the Christian life seems, generally, to be tolerated. A 20-year-old man that expects his parents to accommodate his needs from the comfort of their couch is widely frowned upon. However, a 20-year Christian that avoids biblical responsibilities and fails to exercise the most basic of spiritual disciplines for himself is shrugged off as routine.
This says something about the one that lacks spiritual maturity and the attitude about the issue within the church. Scripture calls Christians to a process of ongoing, progressive growth in the faith.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1–2)
Perhaps you have given little thought to the rate of your maturity. Maybe you have not considered the fact that there is a crowd watching you run the race God has given you. The cares and concerns of the world can have the effect of keeping you on the Christian couch. “I’ll read (or study or memorize) the Bible later.” “I’ll make a habit of praying to God from Scripture soon.” “I’ll take advantage of Sunday school or participate in prayer service when I have a bit more time…maybe.”
The God that authored your faith and will perfect it in the end expects you to run with endurance in between. With Christ as your example, you can choose to shift your focus from the responsibility-dodging demands of the world to the joy set before you. Choose to grow beyond Christian infancy. Do not be like those to whom Paul wrote, “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” (1 Cor. 3:1-3).
Do you spend time studying the Bible in a way that leads to more meaningful growth? When you talk to Christians do you bring up the things you are learning in church, Sunday school or Bible study? Is there a discernible difference in your daily habits today compared to last year? Or could it be said of you that “even now you are not ready?”
Don’t be a Christian hatchling that needs its parent to chew up God’s Word for you. Establish habits (“constant practice”) that leads to growth. It’s time to get off the couch and get into the race!
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. (Heb. 5:13–14)