With just a few hours left to the New Year, many of us are evaluating our 2021 to know whether or not it was a successful year by our books. We want to know whether it was successful in terms of finance, social relations, academics, career and spiritual growth. For some, it was a good year and for some others, it’s just good to be alive. Whatever the case may be, we thank God for bringing us thus far.

Today’s topic would focus on our spiritual growth; what it is for most of us right now and what it should actually be.

A settle for less Christian is a Christian who would rather do the bare minimum. Such a person is content with just the basics. A statement common among such people is “I read my bible, I pray to God and I believe Jesus is Lord so I’m good to go”. Technically, this is not bad but this kind of mentality is risky. This kind of mentality hinders your growth and so you’re left as a Christian who does not really know much about Christianity. God doesn’t desire we stay this way, He wants growth and not just growth, but also fruitfulness.

Remember the story of the fig tree, it was fully bloomed, good for itself. I mean, it had enough leaves for photosynthesis to occur so the tree would have been having a good time. However, it was doing the bare minimum. It refused to go further into fruit production and therefore had no benefit to others. Immediately Jesus saw it, He cursed it. Being a Christian who is comfortable with just the basics of salvation cannot allow you bear fruit. You may be doing well for yourself in the sense that you are saved but it is not enough, you need to be useful to others as well. (Mark 11:12-25; John 15:2)

Another reason why you should strive for more than “okay” in your spiritual life is because we are in perilous times. The times we are in do not require feebleness from Believers. The devil is waging war seriously against Christians through temptations and persecutions. Only those who are conversant with what the Scripture says, only those who know the voice of the Lord would be able to resist the wiles of the devil, only they would be able to say “to live is for Christ, to die is gain…” (Philippians 1:21). Students who have just a basic knowledge of a particular course would never be able to withstand an impromptu test, but someone who has studied that course far and wide would trash any test question concerning that course no matter how the question is formulated. Same goes with spirituality. The deeper you go, the harder it would be for you to fail. (2 Timothy 3:1-3)

So, don’t be too comfortable with praying in the morning and just before you sleep at night alone, you can go as far as praying all through the day. Don’t be comfortable with studying your bible only in the morning, you can do more than that. It’s not enough knowledge to only know that salvation is found in no other but Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The entire bible was not written for you to hang on to that piece of knowledge alone.  

And this does not apply to your spiritual life alone. God does not want you to be a mediocre. God said He would give you exceedingly, abundantly above all that you can think or ask so why do you want to be just okay? (Ephesians 3:20) God is ready to put in you the spirit of excellence that was upon Daniel so why are you satisfied with getting a “C”? Settling for less equals limiting God’s blessings over your life. In this coming year, you can be more than “okay”. It’s in God’s will for you to do more than that. Spiritually, academically, financially, socially, mentally and physically you can do more…don’t settle for less. It has never been endorsed by God.

Remember, the goal is not just to make heaven but to hear “well-done my good and faithful servant”.  

I wish you all a joyous and prosperous New Year!