Proverbs 1.1-5
“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”
In many ways, we are stuck on salvation. We need to get unstuck.
I quote the opening verses of Proverbs to remind us all of something: In the kingdom of God we are either teaching a lesson, learning a lesson, or functioning as the object whereby a lesson will be taught. Proverbs encourages and exhorts us to stay on the path of continuous learning and growth, and to avoid folly. Those who are wise are learners and teachers. Those who are foolish are the object lessons.
This is the nature of life in Christ. The Christian journey is a process of continuous growth and transformation. When we first become Christians, we are given new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5.17). From that moment onward, we are called to continue growing in the new life we have been given.
This is Paul’s message in 2 Corinthians 3.17-18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Sadly, some Christians fail to grow. They get saved and experience an initial burst of change in their life, but then hit a plateau and settle for spiritual mediocrity. We could call this being “stuck on salvation.” When people are in this condition, there is little observable transformation taking place. They do not progressively grow deeper in Christ. They do not progressively get better at their relationships. They do not progressively get more skillful at their job. They do not progressively get wiser in the way they live.
Spiritual stagnation happens when people are satisfied with simply being saved.
When they mistakenly think that salvation is the goal of the Christian life, when in fact it’s simply the beginning of the great journey.
When they are grateful for the forgiveness of sin, but then seek comfort and convenience.
When they want what Jesus does for them, but aren’t nearly as interested in what Jesus is trying to do in them and through them.
When they want the blessings of grace but not the disciplines of grace.
A characteristic of those who profess Christ but do not grow is the refusal to embrace the process of disciplined training. As we have seen multiple times in Proverbs, this process is what Proverbs calls musar, and it is the necessary pathway for spiritual growth and development. Proverbs says the wise person fully embraces musar, whereas the foolish person rejects it.
“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13)
“Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1.7)
To be a follower of Jesus and not growing is a contradiction. To fail to grow is to grieve the Spirit of God who indwells us; to fail to grow is to resist the new life we have been given. The Lord did not redeem us to be stuck on salvation. Growth and change may at times be challenging and uncomfortable, but few things in life are more painful as staying stuck where you don’t belong.
Continuous learning and growth are at the heart of life in Christ. Some may resist, but one way or another God will find a way to teach and instruct. Again, in the kingdom of God we are either teaching a lesson, learning a lesson, or functioning as the object whereby a lesson will be taught.
In many ways, we are stuck on salvation. We need to get unstuck.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3.18)
