The four gospels focus primarily on the public ministry of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection – a period of approximately three years. In addition to this, Matthew and Luke include some information about His birth and infancy. Luke also briefly records one event in Jesus’ childhood – the time when He was “lost” in the temple at twelve years old (Luke 2:41-51).
We may be curious about what happened as Jesus grew up, but the Scriptures are mostly silent about this. However, the Holy Spirit did see fit to include a statement about the growth of Jesus:
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
This may seem somewhat obvious and, therefore, almost insignificant. Yet this statement was given for a reason. If Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor, then it should be expected for us to do the same. In this article, we are going to consider how we can grow in each of these areas.
Physical Growth
This one is the most natural and obvious way in which one can grow, so we will discuss it first and use it as a framework for the other areas we will be discussing. Although it is natural for a child to grow in stature as his physical body develops, there are ways to promote this growth in a healthy way. These would apply to each one of us.
- Nutrition – We need to make sure we eat and drink things that encourage our body’s health. This is about taking in those foods that can sustain us and provide the energy we need for our daily activities.
- Avoiding harmful foods/substances – Some things are unhealthy or even destructive to our body. We must abstain from certain things that will hinder growth.
- Exercise – Doing some type of physical activity with our body helps to strengthen and condition it. This means being active in some way.
- Rest – Our body also needs time to recharge and heal. Even when we are engaged in activities that are good and beneficial, we still need some quiet time away so that we do not become burned out.
These things promote the proper growth of our physical bodies. Yet we can use this same framework to promote growth in other areas as well.
Wisdom
Some wisdom will be gained naturally through age and experience. Yet there are things we can do to ensure that we are gaining as much wisdom as possible.
- Feed on God’s word – In listing reasons why the word of God was to be desired, the psalmist wrote, “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). This “wisdom” gained from the word of God “leads to salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). Therefore, His word is both necessary and desirable.
- Avoid evil influences – The word of God is able to show us the way that is right, but there are many around us who will try to steer us toward what is wrong. Therefore, we need to choose our companions wisely. The wise man said, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Paul plainly stated, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
- Practice God’s word – James wrote, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). After we feed on the word of God, we need to follow it in our everyday lives and do what the Lord has instructed us to do.
- Spend time in prayer – James explained that if we “[lack] wisdom,” we can “ask of God…and it will be given,” provided that we “ask in faith without any doubting” (James 1:5-7). However, we also need to recognize how this is connected with the last point. Just as resting without exercise will not promote physical health, praying without practicing God’s word will not lead to wisdom. Since wisdom is the application of knowledge (a simple definition), then we must know the word of God to gain wisdom from Him. This is why James wrote later in this chapter about how we are to “receive the word implanted” and be “doers of the word” (James 1:21-22).
Favor with God
God loves each one of us, just as He does all mankind. Yet there are things we can do in order to grow in His favor.
- Learn more about Him – In order to please God, we must first know Him. The Hebrew writer explained, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). As Paul explained to the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill, God is “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27), so we are certainly capable of learning about and finding Him if we seek after Him.
- Avoid idols – The apostle John concluded his first epistle with this admonition: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). An idol does not necessarily have to be a graven image of stone or wood; rather, an idol is anything that is equal to or greater than God in our hearts. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). He specifically mentioned one potential idol (wealth), but this principle applies to any object of our devotion. We must be wholly devoted to the Lord.
- Worship God – Knowing about God and recognizing His greatness is good, but we must also demonstrate that reverence by worshiping Him. Jesus said that “the Father seeks [people] to be His worshipers” (John 4:23). As we offer worship to Him, we must not do it according to our will but His will. As Jesus said, we are to “worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
- Meditate on Him – There are two ways in which we can do this. We can meditate on His word and on His works. Regarding the former, the psalmist wrote, “O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Elsewhere he said that because the Lord is “great…and highly to be praised,” he would meditate “on [His] wonderful works” (Psalm 145:3-5).
Favor with Man
Some people will extend their goodwill toward us simply out of the kindness of their hearts. Yet there are certainly things we can do to increase the likelihood that others will look favorably upon us.
- Spend time together – While this would apply to any relationship, I want to focus – at least for this point – on our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Lord expects the church to be a self-edifying body in which “each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). To do this well, we need to build relationships with one another. From the beginning, the early church did this. They were “breaking bread from house to house [and] taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” (Acts 2:46). This closeness led to their willingness to sell houses and lands in order to provide for the needy among them (Acts 4:32-35). The goodwill that was shown toward one another began with a relationship rooted in their common faith and strengthened by the time they spent together.
- Do no harm to others – We are to act in love which, as Paul explained, is the fulfillment of the law: “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. […] Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8, 10). We must avoid doing those things that are harmful to others.
- Do good to others – Just as we are not to harm others, we are also to actively do good. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We need to be looking for these opportunities in which we can show kindness and offer help to those who need it.
- Respect others’ space and time – It is possible to exercise in excess and harm ourselves; therefore, we need periods of rest so we can recharge. In the same way, if we are constantly in the company of others and actively trying to be involved in their lives, this could eventually do more harm than good. We need to spend time with others and do good to those around us, but there is a limit to this. The wise man said, “Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, or he will become weary of you and hate you” (Proverbs 25:17). Let us seek to build relationships and do good to others without overstaying our welcome and causing them to resent us.
Conclusion
If a child is not growing physically, it is an indication that something is wrong. In the same way, if we are not growing in wisdom and favor with God and man, something is wrong. Let us make sure we are eating right, exercising, and getting the rest we need – not just for our physical health, but also for our spiritual development and to improve our relationships with God and others.
