Did you know that a good sign of immaturity is when you begin relying on others for your spiritual food?
Some of these folks never change; in fact, many of them end up becoming “spiritual leeches.”
They don’t get very much spiritual food, and the food they do get, they get by accident. Maybe they expect God to hit them between the eyes when the preacher preaches, or when a friend says something, or when somebody quotes a Scripture.…
Whatever.
But when you stop to think about it, these people are not growing at all. They are simply relying on the “overflow” of other’s spiritual efforts and growth.
If somebody else grows and talks about it, then they’ll grow. However, if they’re not around anyone who is growing, they’ll stay the same. These spiritually immature Christians often feel like mealy-mouthed helpless little runts who can’t do anything for themselves.
Do You Need To Be Spoon Fed?
How would it be if you were 14 or 15 years old and suddenly said, “Well, I don’t really like my food unless somebody else cooks it for me and puts it in my mouth”?
You decide that even though you are 15 years old, you’re not eating anything because your mom isn’t there to prepare it for you, or your dad isn’t there to put it on your fork for you.
Well, you know that’s ridiculous! Yet that’s how many Christians are. It’s a sign of immaturity.
If your growth in the Lord is totally dependent on other people, then you’re never going to grow much. As a strong and growing Christian, you have to take responsibility for your own spiritual growth.
The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). You have to decide to taste it. You have to see that the Lord is good. You have to learn to go get some spiritual food for yourself.
You can’t feel like it’s not really your fault if you don’t grow just because you’re around people who aren’t growing. You can’t say “Well, they didn’t feed me very well, or they didn’t help me along, or they didn’t give me a crutch.”
Maybe we don’t say it, but we often think it. It is time right now for us to say, “I’m going to learn. I’ll quit relying solely on other people.”
Sure, we can learn from their lives and learn from our pastors and parents, but take some responsibility for your own growth.
Take some time now to meditate on Ps 34:8. Think about what it means to taste for yourself that the Lord is good.
Have you been relying only on others to feed you?
Commit to the Lord that you will now start taking responsibility for your own growth as a Christian.
Excerpt permission granted by Teen Mania Ministries
Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.