“Why do you have so much baby food? All your children are grown.” “I know it’s strange but I like it. It’s a good snack.” She was the first and the only adult I’ve ever met who enjoyed eating baby food. I’m sure all parents have tasted the contents of those little round jars at least once because their baby seemed to enjoy it so much. Yuck! Give me a steak. If only maturing from baby food to eating solid food were true with believer’s spiritual appetites. One of the challenges ministers and teachers face are believers who never move beyond milk. Even the Apostles wrote about those who had not matured to adult food. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it (1 Corin 3:2). Peter told the church, Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1 Pet 2:2). All new converts begin with the milk of the Word yet for the purpose that by it you may grow.
Hebrews chapters five and six are difficult passages, yet at the same time contain simple and important lessons especially relevant for the times in which we are living. The Hebrew Christians had endured a great conflict of sufferings, made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, becoming sharers with those who were so treated, prisoners, and the seizure of property (Heb 10:32-34). Now some were struggling about their faith, considering renouncing Christ, and returning to Judaism. The writer warns them of the grave consequences and gives insight to why they had regressed to this point. Like the early church, persecution for us is not a matter of ‘if’, rather a matter of ‘when’. Have you matured enough that you will continue growing?
The author admonishes them; you have become dull of hearing (5:11). Dull can also be translated sluggish, lazy, stupid, or slothful. They weren’t sluggish in the beginning. Have become implies deterioration of hearing from indifference and neglect. Instead of continuing to mature, they again needed milk and not solid food. The author uses the term elementary principles, which literally means ABC’s. They had moved from high school back to Kindergarten. The Message Bible best captures the crux of their situation. So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ (6:1).
Imagine going and picking up your child from Kindergarten and every day, several adults are sitting at a table finger painting. That would be the imagery put forth in this verse. The writer had already reproved them, by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (5:11). The dullness of their hearing could have been the result of the persecution they were enduring. The theme of the book is not just admonishing them but encouraging them that they have something better worth pursuing. Chapter 11 also reminded them they were not alone in the suffering they are facing. Their forefathers also endured by faith knowing they had something better.
These verses indicate that God desires we continue growing and maturing. Paul says, keep on growing in knowledge, (Phil 1:9), grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ (Eph 4:15), and Peter writes, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). Problems arise when Christians think they have grown enough, usually caused by comparing themselves to the most spiritual person they know. Paul provided the measuring stick, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). Growth will never end in this life. If believers stop growing, they open themselves up to weakness and temptation. The strongest body builders in the world will become weak, if they suddenly decide to vegetate on their couch. I have witnessed several godly men and women when they reached the later years of their life become proud, believed they have arrived, stopped growing, and stumbled in temptation.
Jesus told His disciples that they should bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit (John 15:2-8). When Christians stop growing, they also stop increasing in their fruit. Occasionally, I have a plant in my garden and for some reason it stops growing, it bears only a little fruit yet others continue growing, and bear more fruit then much fruit. Bearing fruit as long as we live brings glory to God. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit (Joh 15:8). Years ago, I became spiritually miserable. The Holy Spirit showed me I had stopped growing because I believed I had reached maturity. Reaching maturity is not the end of growth. Rather we continue maturing in our maturity. So, I made every effort and started growing again in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I liked the food and couldn’t wait to see what was on the next day’s menu.
Sustaining Word for the Week: How’s your hearing? How’s the fruit in your garden? Are you in college, high school, or have you drifted back to Kindergarten and finger painting? Get on with the grand work of art.