Introduction
Many people are looking to improve their lives. The new year comes with New Year’s resolutions, promises we make to ourselves on how to improve ourselves. The problem with this practice is we are placing the means of our improvement upon ourselves. If we are the ones who are broken, how are we meant to fix ourselves? Scripture tells us that in order for us to change, to be made a new man, we must have faith. It is a saving faith that creates any real sort of positive change to anyone’s life. All other pursuits such as wealth, health, or happiness, are sinful pursuits that place the importance on our own wellbeing rather than on the glory of God in this world. That is not to say that we cannot be healthy, wealthy, or happy, but that the pursuit of those things should not be primary for us, nor should we view them as improvements to make resolutions towards. What we really need as Christians is spiritual maturity. This maturity is not something that comes with time alone, but it comes with the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Maturing In A New Way
Simply put, a mature Christian is one who practices obedience to Christ. This does not mean that we are perfect or sinless, but that our lives are devoted to obedience to God’s word. This obedience is not a means of receiving God’s grace, but it is a result of God’s grace. We are saved by His grace, and this salvation includes our maturity. As with our natural bodily maturity, spiritual maturity takes time, and we all begin our Christian walk as immature Christians, just as every baby starts as a small child. Small children grow into more mature children, and eventually into full adulthood. So too should the immature Christian grow into a mature Christian. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” This is evident in any child, especially if you have or are currently raising children of your own. Children start off incredibly immature and selfish, but over time, you teach them personal responsibility, care for others, and many other lessons with the hope that they mature into a productive adult. Christians who are maturing in Christ are doing the very same thing.
Part of the faithful life of a Christian is throwing off our old self, the putting off of “childish” things. We no longer think that we are the center of the universe and that life is about us. Childish thinking for a Christian is thinking that God is a tool for our benefit rather than thinking we are a tool in the hands of the creator. As we spiritually mature, we begin to understand that life is about doing things for God’s glory, and not our own. James puts it this way:
James 4:13-17
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James is warning about the continued sin of Christians who think that their lives are in their own hands. How can we say that we will do something in the future, when we are not the ones that hold the future? Our future is in God’s hands, and whatever He wills will take place. This is why we should say “If the Lord wills” because the mature Christian recognizes God’s sovereignty over all things. When we begin to understand this fully and apply it to our thinking and actions, we are better able to glorify God in our every action. The beginning of true obedience to God’s law is the recognition that He is God and you are not. He is not like you, He is eternally sufficient within Himself, you are entirely dependent on God for your life and all of your being. Knowing this to be true, you will begin to think differently about why you do anything, why you pursue what you pursue, why you are alive. All things end up coming back to God.
What If I Don’t Want to Mature?
This concept is difficult for many to swallow, especially as new believers. We have lived in our sin for so long that we genuinely think ourselves and our reasoning to be sufficient for life. This is made evident in atheist’s attempts to philosophize the purpose of life and categorize existence purely scientifically. Philosophy and science have their place, but only in subordination to God and His revelation. If as Christians we continue to think like an unbeliever about ourselves and God we are not going to mature spiritually. The consequence of this is that we will not understand deeper topics in scripture.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
The evidence of the fleshly immature Christians in Corinth was their continued sin. They still desired personal pleasures, personal goals, personal pursuits, which led them into sins. Paul must cover the basics again and again because they are still immature. If you too walk in this immaturity, you will continue to be held captive by sin. This is not what God wants for His people, He calls us to be holy because He is Holy. God has purposed to not leave us walking in our sins, but He matures us so that we will walk in His righteousness instead. In the end, God is going to mature you whether you originally want to or not, He will change your desires over time.
Pursuing Maturity
We are called to strive together for spiritual maturity, and God has not left us to do this alone. He provides for us multiple tools for maturity as Christians. We have one another, we have God’s word, and we have the Holy Spirit. Rather than pursuing personal growth through a resolution, we should be striving for God to bring a change in us through the revelation of Himself in His word. This is why we gather, so we can continue to build one another up in Christ.
Colossians 1:28-29
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
We teach and admonish everyone with wisdom. This wisdom is not something conceived by man, but comes from God! He has given to us His scriptures, which are inspired by Him for the purpose of training us up.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
God gives to us these tools in order that we would use them for His glory. Part of God’s glory is your spiritual maturity. He does not leave you alone, He accomplishes His will in you, and you get to participate! He gives to us the Holy Spirit, which testifies to us the truth of God’s word, softens our hearts, and renews our minds. The good news about Christian maturity is that it is not something you have to resolve to pursue, God is pursuing it for you and making you pursue it.
Conclusion
Rather than making a New Year’s resolution that is focused on you for the sake of you, spend some time in God’s word. This is not something that should be a resolution for you to attempt to follow, but if you are a Christian it should be a way of life that is constant. God has given to you wonderful gifts for the purpose of building you up so that you would glorify Him with all of your life. If you are a Christian that does not feel like your life is marked by glorification to God, it is time to pursue maturity. Read God’s word, join and attend a church, be held accountable amongst a body of believers, and pray constantly, relying on the Holy Spirit to bring a spiritual change that you cannot achieve in the flesh.