8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

I have a friend who, at one point, was a self-confessed shopping addict. Recently, his family realized that this activity had stopped, though he hadn’t intentionally curtailed it. Why, they wondered, did his longing to acquire more goods seem to dissolve?

The reason was that my friend had become more satisfied with the Lord. He no longer needed fulfillment from what the world had to offer. What a terrific illustration of growth in Christ.

In addition to finding fulfillment in God, there are many other growth indicators that are noticeable to the believer. For instance, offering forgiveness becomes easier over time. Consider our Savior, who asked God to forgive even those who crucified Him on the cross.

Also, as we mature, our faith will increase. God loves us, and He gracefully and gently builds our confidence in Him. Then, as our trust grows, we realize how faithful He truly is–which grows our assurance even more.

Another mark of a closer walk with Christ is an expanding concern for others’ spiritual condition. And finally, as our relationship with the Lord deepens, we will increasingly desire to obey Him. This desire is born not out of fear but out of love for our heavenly Father. Similarly, when we do sin, our hearts will become saddened and repentant.

Are you satisfied spiritually? Or do you have a growing, insatiable hunger for more of Jesus? Friend, if you think that you’ve come far enough in your journey with Christ, you have made a terrible mistake. You are missing great fulfillment and the excitement that comes from getting closer to Him.

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.” Ps 55:22

First, you must learn how to carry your own burden. Second, you must be able to help those who are weak to carry theirs. Third, you must learn to give your burden to the Lord. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.” Sounds easy, but it’s not, because: (1) If you’re self-centered you will think only about your own personal wants, needs, and plans. (2) If you’re a self-starter and self-motivator you will struggle with the humility required to get down on your knees and say, “Lord, I need you; before I make a move I need to know You are with me.” (3) If you’re self-sufficient you will wait until your knees are buckling and your back is breaking, then send an SOS up to heaven asking, “Lord, where are You?” And He will reply, “I’m right here, wondering when you’re going to start trusting Me, leaning on Me and drawing strength from Me.” Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5 NKJV). The key to success in God’s kingdom is: work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God! Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” If He has to, God will allow you to fall flat on your face in order to get you on your knees. If you’re wise, you won’t wait for that to happen.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2

Paul writes, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” You must take responsibility for your own spiritual growth, because until you learn to carry your own burdens you won’t be able to help others carry theirs. Remember the old Vietnam War era song, “He Ain’t Heavy…He’s My Brother”? Instead of always having to be lifted, God wants you to lift others. Instead of always having to be prayed for, God wants you to pray for others. Instead of always needing to receive, you should be able to give. Why is it “more blessed to give than to receive” (Ac 20:35)? Because in receiving, the process ends with you. But in giving, you activate the law of reciprocity. Paul says: “Every one must make up his own mind as to how much he should give…cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will not only be enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to give joyfully to others …Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much…Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine” (2Co 9:7-13 TLB). When you’re all wrapped up in yourself, you make a very small package. It’s when you open up and reach out in love to others, that you begin to grow spiritually.

“Every man shall bear his own burden.” Gal 6:5

Here is the first of three Scriptures you can use to measure your spiritual growth: “Every man shall bear his own burden.” The old saying, “You’re only young once,” is true, but you can be immature for a lifetime. Paul writes: “I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk…as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature” (1Co 3:1-3 NLT). As a parent you expect a higher level of responsibility and maturity from your teenager than you do from your toddler, right? And your heavenly Father requires the same of you. If you’re still being defeated by the same habits and hang-ups you struggled with as a new believer, seek God’s help. If you’re to fulfill your God-given destiny you must grow into maturity. Instead of always having to be “carried,” you must get to the place where you can feed yourself spiritually, pray in faith over your own problems, and make Spirit-led decisions concerning your life. God’s growth plan for us is: “We will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ” (Eph 4:14-15 NLT). Spiritual growth must be your priority—otherwise it won’t happen!