Committed to Growth
As we close our week looking at the committed Christian life of Philemon, let’s read again Paul’s words to him in verse 6: “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” (Philemon 1:6 NIV11)
Philemon still needed the instruction of Paul, to help him see certain things clearly. He needed to deepen his understanding of certain things.
Here he was, no doubt angry at his slave having run away. And Paul writes this letter to convince him to take Onesimus his slave back, as we shall see. If Paul hadn’t written this, he would never have grown in his understanding of how God works with all people.
Embrace Growth Always
We’re all still growing! We all have our blind spots. We may be deeply committed to loving like Jesus and faithfully following him; we may be saved by his grace and we may even be entirely sanctified by His Spirit; but there is always room for growth and deepening of our understanding of the things and ways of God.
There’s a line in a Billy Joel song that says:
Now with the wisdom of years I try to reason things out.
And the only people I fear are those who never have doubts.
Those who think they’ve arrived, who think they know it all, who think there’s nothing more to learn, those are dangerous people. Those are people who cause problems. But those which a teachable spirit and a desire to grow and learn, those are the people with whom God works!
After all, weren’t the Pharisees the ones who thought they had it all figured out? If you think about it, it was their lack of a teachable spirit that made them resistant to Christ. They were deeply committed to their faith but blindly so. Blind to the growth and deepening of understanding that Jesus brought.
It’s almost as if Paul is saying here to Philemon: don’t be a Pharisee! Don’t be stubborn and prideful! There is still growth and deepening for you, my brother, in your journey!
Paul himself, in the book of Philippians, also written as an older man, spoke about the perfection that he desired in his faith, and then he said this: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.” (Philippians 3:12–13 NIV11)
Prioritize Spiritual Growth
Even Paul says: I am still growing. I am still learning. I’m committed! But I am still moving forward.
But notice, he says he presses on to take hold of it! He prioritises spiritual growth in his life. Are we committed to growing in our faith? Are we diligently spending time in prayer, in reading our Bibles, in attending worship, and other opportunities for growth in faith?
Philemon and Paul show us today that no matter how advanced you are in your faith, you can press on to learn more, deepen your understanding, and grow. Don’t neglect this! Be committed to it, and watch God move in your life.
