Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Physical Maturity

Qualifications – Blog.2

I have been thinking recently about what qualifies someone to serve God. I introduced the topic a couple of weeks ago discussing the obvious qualification of ones salvation, and then last week had a look at the subject of formal theological training. This week I want to ask the question, does physical maturity bear any relation to spiritual maturity?

Logically you might think it does, if someone is constantly walking with the Lord then they should develop spiritually as they do physically, however, this is not always the case. Spiritual maturity in many cases can be stunted or even regress, due to the believer’s lack of prayer and Bible study. I think this was the case with the Christians to whom Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians when he said, ‘And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.’ In this letter Paul is highlighting to the believers at Corinth their lack of spiritual development; they were saved for quite some time and should have developed ‘an adult spiritual diet’. However, they were still on the ‘baby food’, they still needed to be fed milk like un-weaned children. What a sad state of affairs!

I’m sure we have all seen examples of this in the Church that we attend. There are believers who have been saved for many years but they have never really developed very much, they still get on like babies. On the other hand there are young people that I have met in my own sphere of ministry who demonstrate tremendous spiritual maturity and show evidence of a close walk with God. So does age factor into when someone is qualified to serve God?

In the Old Testament economy, the priests who served in the Tabernacle and then the Temple were not to commence their ministry until they were 30 years of age.

Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:’ Numbers Chp 4 v 2 - 4

Interestingly both the Lord Jesus Christ and John the Baptist commenced their public ministry at the age of 30. However, there are many examples that fall outside of that pattern. Moses did not really get going in his ministry until he was 80 years of age whereas Samuel was in the service of the Lord from his childhood.

In Paul’s Pastoral Epistle to young (yes young) Timothy he gave him some instruction on the selection of Elders for the Church. As part of the various pieces of advice he said that the one to be chosen ought not to be ‘a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.’ It is interesting that it does not say that it should not be someone young but that it should not be a novice.
νεόφυτος = neophytes = novice. The Greek word, here translated novice, has the idea of ‘newly planted’, it’s really speaking of a new convert. Timothy of course, despite being a young pastor was not a brand new convert. Timothy proves the point that one can be spiritually mature at a young age and find oneself in a position of responsibility and leadership.

Church history has many examples of men who served the Lord from a very early age. Examples include CH Spurgeon who was called to be the Pastor of New Park Street Baptist Chapel when only 19 years of age and the Scottish Presbyterian Robert Murray McCheyne who died at the early age of 29 totally ‘burnt out’ in his service for the Lord having only begun his ministry at the age of 21. Mr McCheyne was attributed to have said 'I know Jesus Christ better than any earthly man.' I think this is the key to where we find the true qualification. He knew his God.

the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.’ Daniel 11 v32

It does not matter whether we are 20, 40 or 60 the question is, how well do we know God? An honest answer to this question will tell us a whole lot about our level of spiritual maturity. It is possible to know a lot about God and yet not have a close personal walk with Him day by day.

Sadly in the Church there are some who look down their noses at younger brothers and sisters in Christ. They somehow think that their lack of physical maturity equates to a lack of spiritual maturity. This is wrong thinking and could result in gifted and spiritual people being overlooked or worse still, discouraged from any service for the Master.

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' 1 John 2 v 12-14

2 comments:

  1. Correct. It is spiritual, not physical, maturity that counts. Of course, that normally requires a couple of decades at least - as experience of the trials and temptations of life are a part of spiritual maturity.

    But spiritual purity is not the same as spiritual maturity. One can be a relatively new convert yet be pure. But that person might not have the insight and strength that a pure longer-saved brother might have.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think we only have to look at the life of Joseph to determine that spiritual maturity is developed through a close and dependent relationship with Almighty God, whatever the age. Joseph was only 17 when he was sold into captivity by his brothers, after they had discussed killing him. Yet throughout his life, even at that stage, we see that he was dependent upon God and demonstrated his spiritual maturity in the way he conducted himself in both good times and bad. He had a spiritual maturity about him that was exhibited even to unbelievers. Joseph was only 30 at the time he was elevated to Prime Minister, because he had a relationship with God which had not faltered from his younger days. There is a clear separation between physical maturity and spiritual maturity evidenced in this case.

    ReplyDelete