WHY WE DON’T GROW
Judges 17:13-15
Statistics show the average productivity of a Christian’s spiritual life is less than three years. Tonight I want to bring encouragement to those who are sidetracked and to strengthen those who are on the right track.
Billy Sunday used to say, “If we Christians were as weak physically as we are spiritually, we would all need crutches.”
The colorful baseball-player-turned-evangelist was saying that if you’re not growing spiritually, you ought to be worried. Growth is the normal and natural result of life; and if there isn’t growth, that life is in jeopardy.
Now, we’re not surprised when we grow physically; we expect it. If, by chance, growth doesn’t occur, we immediately know something is wrong and attempt to uncover the problem.
However, we often look upon Christians who have grown and are growing as extraordinary specimens of Christianity.
I believe as Christians we have no right to call ourselves normal until spiritual growth becomes as natural as physical growth.
Just as there are enemies to physical growth, there are also enemies to spiritual growth. Our spiritual development is never unopposed. We do not simply drift into maturity. To grow we must swim upstream against the stubborn currents that try to hold us back.
You know your experience of salvation was real, and there has been some progress, but it is pitifully small, almost microscopic. What’s the problem?
This passage from Joshua 17:12-18 throws some light on why we fail to grow.
I. We will fail to grow when we EXERCISE PARTIAL CONQUEST.
There’s a telling statement in verses 12, 13.
Now don’t miss this point: although Israel had conquered the land, many of the Canaanites--the enemy, if you please--still lived there.
See Joshua 16:10
In Judges chapter 1 we discover an important clue concerning their problem (Judges 1:27-31, 33).
Before Israel entered the land, God specified in no uncertain terms that all the inhabitants of the land were to be driven out completely--not a single Canaanite was to be left. But again and again, with deliberate significance, we read that they did not drive them out. Now the land swarmed with both natives and newcomers. No wonder they complained of crowded conditions!
Suppose you meet me on the street and ask how I am. “Not so well,” I answer. “We need a larger house. There are only two of us, but we’re crowded.”
“I can help you,” you say. “There’s a twelve-room house for sale real cheap. A family of seven has lived there but they’re wanting to move.”
Off I go and buy the house and move my wife and I into the twelve rooms.
A few days later you meet me again on the
street and ask how I am.
“Not so well,” I answer. “We need a larger house.”
“A larger house?” But there are only two of you in that twelve-room castle! How could you be crowded?”
“Well, the former owners--seven of them, you know--are still living there, and it’s pretty crowded.”
It wouldn’t require a genius to solve my problem. Move out the former owners.
What right do I have to complain about crowded conditions when I am not using the room I have?
And that was exactly the case with the
complaining tribes. They had plenty of room--but it was occupied by the enemy. You see, it’s foolish to ask God to give you more blessings when you haven’t lived out the blessings you already have. No use asking God for additional truth when you haven’t obeyed what you already know.
Are you living up to your capacity? Look around; have you allowed some Canaanites to remain in your life? God told you to drive out every one, but there were two or three you were especially fond of and so you’ve allowed them to hang around. Of course, you’ve given them strict orders to behave themselves--and for the most part they’ve done so. Let me tell you, there can he no continuing growth as long as you tolerate the presence of a single Canaanite.
It’s interesting to note some of the reasons we keep Canaanites around:
A. A spirit of compromise
God said that every inhabitant had to go. We reason that surely one or two won’t make any difference. That’s the way it begins. We know a thing is wrong--but just a little bit.
After all, no one is perfect; we know of worse things in the life of some other Christians, and they seem to get along OK.
No matter how we say it, we are compromising the Word of God, and that is plain, unadulterated disobedience.
B. A spirit of complacency
Did you notice that when the tribes allowed the Canaanites to stay, they put them to forced labor? That means they made slaves of them. Sure, they had been the enemy; but now they were slaves and under control.
Who says the Bible isn’t up-to-date? I can’t count the number of people I’ve heard reason the same way. “Yeah, I know it’s not altogether right--but I can handle it. It’s a problem, but I have learned to control it.”
Have you ever heard someone say about his drinking, “Oh, I can take it or leave it?” What’s so great about that? That’s all anyone can do--take it or leave it. There is no third alternative. But I have observed that those who say that usually choose to “take it.”
The truth is, the Israelites couldn’t handle it. The Canaanites refused to be slaves. And if the Israelites couldn’t do it, neither can we.
C. A spirit of cowardice
If it weren’t so tragic, this would be funny. Look at chapter 17:16. Joshua had told the people that if they wanted more room, they should go up to the forest and clear the land.
Note their reply.
First they said that the hill country wasn’t big enough but actually they were afraid of the armed Canaanites. But I thought the Canaanites had been put to forced labor. I thought they were slaves and under control, If so, then those are the strangest slaves I’ve ever heard of!
One of the big reasons we don’t try to
drive out the Canaanites (these pet sins and hidden habits) is that we’re afraid we can’t. We avoid a direct confrontation.
It’s much more comfortable living with the illusions that we can drive them out any time we please. You say you can quit that habit any time you want to--why don’t you, then? Is it possible that you’re the real slave?
II. We will fail to grow when we EXPECT PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION.
Manasseh was the firstborn of Joseph; the Ephraimites were relatives of Joshua, the head man. Surely they deserved special treatment. You couldn’t expect someone as great as they were to live by the same rules as everyone else. It was the VIP treatment for them.
I’m amazed at how many believers actually feel this way. They know the laws governing growth and spirituality--faithful Bible study and prayer, up-to-date confession of sin, and diligent obedience to the Word of God; however, they expect God’s blessings without them.
Our passage reveals two factors that contribute to this attitude.
A. Haughtiness
The sons of Joseph boasted that they were a great people and had been singularly blessed by the Lord. This, they thought, should qualify them for preferential treatment.
Pride is a subtle termite that eats away the foundation of Christian growth. It can attack a church or an individual with equal deadliness.
A respected position in the church, widely acclaimed talent, past blessings, high honors--any one of these can inflate us with the hot air of arrogance.
An ancient Indonesian fable tells of a turtle that could fly. He would hold on to a stick with his mouth as it was carried by geese. When the turtle heard the onlookers on the ground saying, "Aren’t those geese brilliant!" His pride was so hurt that he shouted, "It was my idea!" Of course he lost his grip. His pride became his downfall.
What they had was not big enough for them.
Unless we’re humble, we’re sure to stumble.
B. Laziness
I’m convinced the main reason Christians are not more spiritual, more mature, more dedicated, is that they are too lazy!
The major problem with most Christians is
laziness. It was so with the crowd in Joshua 17.
Joshua told them if they wanted more land
they could have it if they were willing to work for it. Cut down the trees and drive out the Canaanites were the only stipulations. But that’s exactly what they weren’t willing to do. They didn’t want to build or battle; they just wanted to beg.
We’re often the same way. At this precise moment you are as spiritual as you really want to be. Oh, I know we moan and groan, wishing we were more spiritual; but wishing won’t get it. It’s useless to beg God for more growth if we’re not willing to build and battle for it.
One day a father took his son to Spurgeon’s College to study for the ministry under that prince of preachers. When Mr. Spurgeon told the father the course of instruction would require several years, the father said, “My son is an unusually bright young man! I’m certain you could arrange for him to finish much sooner.”
Mr. Spurgeon replied, “Sir, God takes twenty years to grow an oak tree and only six months to grow a squash. Which do you want your son to be?”
There are no shortcuts to maturity. To reach it demands discipline and determination.
III. We will fail to grow when we EVADE PRIORITY COMMITMENTS.
Note Joshua’s solution to their problem (17,18). Clear out the forest and drive out the Canaanites. That was the simple solution to their growth problem.
Until this is done, no expansion could be expected. The land was theirs--but before they could possess it, these things had to be done. So it is with us.
Although they evaded this priority commitment, I trust we will not; so let’s examine more closely the two tasks Joshua assigned to them. I call them priority commitments for growth. They are as necessary to our growth as they were to theirs.
A. Clear Out The Clutter ... Vs. 18a Chop down the trees!
Nothing wrong with trees .... unless you want to build a house, grow corn, or lay a road where a tree is growing.
These trees had to be removed .... if trees are cluttering the land -- you can’t say there’s not enough room.
They needed to clear out the harmless things that cluttered their life!
Have you done that?
Clear out the clutter!
The trees symbolize the many harmless things, even good things, that fill the agenda of our daily lives.
I’m certain that when we’ve talked about the necessity of a daily time of prayer and Bible study someone has said, “Oh, that would be great, but I’m just too busy. I don’t have room for another thing in my day.”
The truth is, we all have the same amount of time, twenty-four hours to the day and seven days to the week.
I find that people usually manage to make time for what they think is really important. And if you don’t have time to do everything God intends you to do, it simply means that you are misusing some of your time.
You will never find time for God; you will have to make time. This means some trees will have to be cut down.
Perhaps late-night television will have to be eliminated so you can rise earlier in order to have time to pray and read the Word. That’s only an example of what I mean.
If you really want to know, God will show you the trees you need to clear away.
B. Clean Out the Corruption
Vs. 18b "... drive out the Canaanites."
We must clean out the harmful things that corrupt our lives.
After the trees come the Canaanites.
You will never have the power to drive out the
habits of sin in your life until you give priority to a daily time of fellowship and communion with God.
Conclusion
The principle of growth lives within every believer; just as with our physical development. However, we must cooperate with the laws of spiritual health if that growth is to be realized in our lives.
