1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NIV): Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
There are many “titles” that Christians use to describe themselves. Some are quite biblical: a sinner saved by grace; a servant of the Lord; a child of God. Others, however, have a sound of humility, but are actually used as an excuse for immaturity and an unholy life. One of these is “only human.” This term is supposed to excuse us when we behave in unChristlike ways. “Well, I’m only human!” But those who use this term in this way don’t realize that it is the equivalent of Paul’s phrase “mere men,” which is another way of saying “spiritual infants” or “worldly people.”
Paul criticized the Corinthian believers for still being mere infants in Christ several months, even a couple of years after they had received Christ. This infancy was demonstrated by the divisions that they had shown among themselves, by their lack of Christlikeness, and by their jealousy and quarreling. Paul was scolding them for their lack of growth, their lack of maturity. Had they been mature, it would have been clearly shown by their unity, their powerful fellowship, their love, and their mutual support.
Just like a newborn baby, God expects His people to grow. He expects us to eat heartily of His word, to drink deeply of His presence through time spent with Him in prayer. He expects us to mature quickly into powerful kingdom people. But all too often we are still infants months and even years later – those whose new life doesn’t actually shrivel up and die out in that time. The culprit is almost always a lack of taking adequate nourishment. If we won’t make time to read the Bible, pray, and worship, we will have nothing to grow on, and will exhibit failure to thrive.
But those who exhibit a powerful hunger and thirst for knowledge of God; those who long to spend time with Him in prayer, reading, listening, and dialogueing; those who attend worship services, full of joy at being able to worship with others of God’s people; those are the ones who will thrive and grow, and become powerful spiritual adults in a surprisingly short time.
Father, I know many who exhibit this failure to thrive that You are talking about. I’m afraid that a lot of us have come to accept this state of a long-lasting spiritual infancy, as well as a high “mortality rate” among new believers, as normal. I can see how vital it is for all of us who know You well to come alongside each new believer to encourage and strengthen them, to mentor them, and to share with them what You are teaching us each day. Then we will see a new “normal” of baby Christians thriving and growing strong, taking their place in the ranks of the leaders in the kingdom in a much shorter time than we usually expect now. Thank You for helping me to see this picture more clearly. Amen.