There is an expectation in Christianity that we continually grow and show progress. We must never become stagnant, burdened by routine, or satisfied with just being good enough.

  • “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men” (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
  • “That you may excel still more” (4:1).
  • “But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more” (4:10).

Remember that the Christians in Thessalonica were already doing a good job (1 Thessalonians 4:1,9,10). They knew what Jesus said about love, and were practicing it. This was not a new command or a strange concept to them. But even a congregation that is loving adequately has room for improvement. We always need to be careful that we are not fooling ourselves into believing that “serviceable” is enough. Being told to “excel still more” is not an indication that we have failed – it is, rather, an indication that we are on the right track. Nobody who has ever learned a musical instrument or taken up a new hobby is a failure as long as their progress matches their experience level and commitment to improvement. In fact, we are all “still arriving” at everything we do when we have the perspective to see the many challenges that still face us.

The danger for any congregation or Christian, however, is to stall in their development.

  • “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ…For you are still fleshly” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

It is frustrating for a church to be limited in its goals or conversations because of a lack of maturity, or persistent false mindset. It can become quite a strain on those members who want progress, on a church’s leadership, and on those who recognize the problem but are too exhausted and flustered to know where to go next.

  • “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God” (Hebrews 5:12).

Something To Look Forward To

Paul’s list of accomplishments and accolades was long by the time he wrote his letter to the Philippians. Aside from the inherited honors (Philippians 3:4-6) which no longer held value to him, the aged apostle probably could not even number all the congregations for which he had preached and labored. He had helped establish churches all over the Roman Empire. He had a “hall of fame” lineup of young men who had learned from him and continued his work around the world. His letters were considered authoritative and were being copied and distributed to churches everywhere. Some believe that Paul was in his sixties when he wrote the following words:

  • “Not that I have obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

While it is the resurrection to which Paul refers specifically, the form of his pressing on, his reaching forward, was in labors in the flesh (Philippians 1:21ff). As long as it was God’s will for him to live in the world, he would use his time for service. Amazingly, in spite of all his accomplishments, he still believed there was more to be done, that the future held his glory, not the past. Unlike so many of us, Paul did not sit around and reminisce about the good old days, or obsess over the stories of his past. He did not believe his usefulness had been totally exhausted. There was still work to be done, years of productive service to be embraced.

More Shall Be Given

Is it not comforting to know that when it comes to what really matters, there is an expected increase to those who are already doing a good job. “For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance” (Matthew 25:29). God does not ignore or forget the people who continue striving. In fact, the harder we work for Him, the more opportunities are created for us:

  • In Bible study, the more I apply my knowledge, the more knowledge will become accessible to me;
  • In evangelism, one contact may lead to a dozen more;
  • In worship, the more I put into it, the more I get out of it;
  • The more charity I show to others, the more charity will be shown to me in my time of need;
  • When I show love in excess, I shall always have an abundance of it. There will never be a shortage in my life!

No Pinnacle Until Heaven

Christianity stands out as a lifestyle because it has only one pinnacle of glory – and we do not reach that until our days are over! Unlike an athlete or actor (really, most professions), we do not get to the top and stall out, with nowhere else to go. Nobody is “over the hill” spiritually, as a sixty-year-old Paul would argue that his best days were still ahead of him.

This also applies to the way we study the Bible. I will never read a passage and “hit a wall” of understanding. I will never throw my hands in the air and conclude that nothing else can be learned from the Bible. The wisdom of the Bible is layered in such a way that there are always truths to be understood in a newer, deeper way as I mature.

Never Stop Reaching

Paul was always reaching forward to new challenges. Even in a prison cell, or in advanced age, he was an energetic servant of God. He even had plans to go to Spain for the sake of the Gospel, if it was God’s will (Romans 15:28). Look again at his message to the Philippians:

  • “Reaching forward” – He was one who kept up the chase, never backed down or took a break from service. He also did not rest on his laurels, so to speak. So often, we “reach backward” to show how we have served or worked. We can keep a record of baptisms and Bible studies, or attendance figures and contribution. We can bank on our reputation or our glory years. But the sign of a true servant is one who is already planning his next move, reaching forward.
  • “That I may lay hold…For which also I was laid hold of by Christ” – He was told by Christ how much he would have to suffer and work for the Way (Acts 9:15-16). He was a chosen instrument, and considered it an obligation to lay hold of his work just as vigorously as Christ had laid hold of him. Imagine if we all worked as hard for Christ as He has worked for us!
  • “I press on” – This language reminds me of a runner stretching, straining for the finish line of a race. This is, of course, not the only time that the apostle used such an analogy for his life (1 Corinthians 9:26, 2 Timothy 4:7). This phrase is used of one who is going all-out to the end. Sadly, the world is filled with people who, with equal vigor, go all-out for unworthy goals. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” is applied to the extreme athlete, the drug addict, the party-goer, but hardly ever to a Christian in his or her service. We will exhaust ourselves for a sporting event (and pay good money, too), or for a hobby, but we make petty excuses for missing worship or failing to pray.

The Devil Never Grows

I like that there are never any scriptures that mention the devil growing, increasing in knowledge, or learning. Yet we are called to do all of these things. Indeed, our enemy is crafty, wily, and deceptive (Genesis 3:1, 2 Corinthians 2:11, John 8:44), but nowhere does it say that the devil is getting any better at what he does, or that he is maturing or learning from his experiences. By God’s light, however, you and I are! He is pretty much the same being, with the same ceiling, that he has been from the very beginning. What this means is that he might have been able to push me around when I was younger, but my “pressing on” will result in greater resistance to his schemes. If I keep up the fight and press on as I should, every new day will present me with opportunities to patch up holes in my spiritual armor. After all, according to 1 Peter 5:8-9 there are two things that are pointed out that help us resist Satan: a sober spirit and firmness of faith. These are tools that are honed through diligence and persistent growth.