TOOLS FOR GROWTH

                                                     by David Dann

Are you growing spiritually? Christians are expected to grow up in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote of this need in his letter to the church in Ephesus, saying, "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:14-16).

The goal in response to the command should be to put forth the effort to make real spiritual progress in becoming more and more like Christ. When God gives man a command, He also provides the means necessary in order to fulfill that command. What tools has God provided to help each Christian grow?

1. The written word of God. Paul wrote of the spiritual armor of the Christian, saying, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17). The word of God equips the child of God to combat the forces of wickedness. The apostle Peter writes, "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:1-2). In order to grow spiritually, Christians must strongly desire, and must make use of, the word of God. Christians will not grow without taking time to read, study, and make proper use of God's word. The Scriptures serve as a tool for spiritual growth.

2. The privilege of prayer to God. The ability to approach God in prayer with the expectation of being heard is a privilege reserved for the faithful. Affirming the words of the psalmist, Peter writes, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12). Prayer allows the child of God to communicate his praise, thankfulness, fears, desires, and requests to his Creator. Since this is true, Paul instructs Christians to, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). In order to grow spiritually, Christians must continually make use of the privilege of prayer to God. Christians will not grow without setting aside time to personally approach the God of heaven. Prayer serves as a tool for spiritual growth.

3. The people of God. Paul wrote of the importance of the spiritual relationship shared between Christians, saying, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-13). Fellow Christians, are provided by God in order to help the child of God to grow. To the members of the church in Thessalonica, Paul writes, "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thess. 5:11). In order to grow spiritually, Christians must offer one another the help and encouragement that enables each one to be built up and strengthened in the Lord. Christians will not grow while having little or no connection with other faithful children of God. The people of God serve as a tool for spiritual growth.

Conclusion: Peter concludes his second letter to Christians with the following instruction: "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Pet. 3:17-18). In His word, in the privilege of prayer, and in fellow faithful Christians, God has provided the means by which each child of God can grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Are you making use of these tools for growth?

The “Health and Wealth” Gospel

By Jeff Curtis

Some preachers today proclaim a “health and wealth” gospel. Their message is that God wants His people to do well physically and financially. They teach that, if Christians will follow in the ways of God, He will guarantee that they become rich and never get sick.

To prove this doctrine, these preachers often refer to the Old Testament, claiming that the promises to Abraham and the promises in passages like Leviticus 26 apply to Christians today. In doing so, they ignore several facts. Abraham was indeed wealthy, but he was a special individual who had a certain role to play in God’s plan of redemption. No one can claim to occupy the same place in God’s plan that Abraham had; therefore, no one can claim that he is guaranteed to receive the promises made to Abraham. As pointed out earlier, the promises made to the nation, not to the individuals. Righteous individuals among God’s people were often poor. What the Old Testament teaches doesn’t apply directly to Christians today, since Christians no longer live under the old covenant.

Sometimes false teachers appeal to New Testament passages such as Luke 6:38 to prove their assertion that God will always bless faithful Christians with health and wealth. That appeal has problems. Many Christians were martyred (for example, Stephen). The principle of martyrdom is incompatible with the “health and wealth” gospel. While some Christians were rich in New Testament times (1Timothy 6:17), many were not (1Cornthians 1:26).

If the “health and wealth” gospel were true, all faithful Christians should have been rich. Also, Christians got sick in New Testament times and were always healed by the Lord (2Corinthians 12:7-10; 1Timothy 5:23; 2Timothy 4:20). If the “health and wealth” gospel were true, how could that fact be explained?

What does the New Testament teach about material blessings? Only two promises teach related to material blessings are given in the New Testament. 1) God promises to meet our physical needs (as He defines them) if we seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). 2) If we live righteously, He had promised that He will be persecuted (2Timothy 3:12). We must conclude that the claims of the “health and wealth” gospel are false. The blessings promised Christians in passages like Luke 6:38 were spiritual in nature, not physical or material.

What are the blessings and the curses of the new covenant? Those who obey the Lord will receive the greatest blessing of all: They will be saved (Hebrews 5:8,9). Those who disobey, on the other hand, will be condemned (2Thessalonians 1:8,9). Jesus pictured the ultimate blessing, and the most terrible curse in Matthew 25. There He said that, in the day of judgement, those who have failed to help others will hear the dreaded words “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41). Those who have done good to others will hear the welcome words “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you” (Matthew 25:34).  The ultimate blessings and curses of the new covenant will be pronounced on the last great day, when each person will hear either, “Depart…accursed ones” or “Come, you who are blessed.” Which will it be for you and me?