Which Direction Are We Growing?

From life’s experiences, we know that some folks grow old gracefully, while others become grouchy and ill-tempered. Knowing this, it’s important for us as Christians to know which direction we’re growing, spiritually speaking.

People don’t get irritable and short-tempered merely because they’re getting older. Aging has very little to do with folks being hypercritical and cranky. No, it’s more likely that we’ve become what we’ve allowed ourselves to become through various habits that we’ve acquired through the years, whether good or bad.

Paul gives us an eternal principle when he writes, “He who sows to his flesh will …. reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will …. reap everlasting life” (Gal. 6:8).

Folks who cater to self-interest and think only of themselves, are sowing seeds that will produce a harvest of misery — not only in themselves, but also in others. On the other hand, those who love God and demonstrate care and concern for others, are sowing seeds that will eventually yield a harvest of joy (2 Corinthians 2:1-4; Philippians 2:1-2; Philippians 4:1; Philemon 1:19-20; 3 John 1:1-4).

Regarding the choices we make, Irish author and scholar C.S. Lewis once observed, “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before” (source).

So the question we need to ask ourselves is: “Which direction are we growing?” Let us choose to willingly submit our wills to God each day (cf. Luke 22:42; John 5:30; John 6:38), asking Him to give us strength to live for Him and for others (Philippians 4:13).

If we will acquire this attitude, we will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and be a blessing to others (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets