Christian growth should be a subject of deep interest to every believer. This process
is often called “sanctification” or “discipleship,” and is the spiritual alchemy
where the lead of selfishness is turned into the gold of godliness. Sanctification
is God’s will for every believer. (1Thes. 4:3) This maturing occurs through
repeated exposure and obedience to the truth of God’s Word (Jn 17:17). This
process is described in Scripture as a blessing (Job 5:17), though it may
not feel that way (Heb 12:11). It continues throughout a believer’s life
(Phil 1:6) and is often fraught with struggle as God prunes His people to
be fruitful for Him. Salvation is not immediately followed by the unmingled desire
to obey God in all things. If this were the case the whole concept of sanctification
as a process would be meaningless. Christ learned obedience and it is folly to think
our situation would be otherwise. One may begin by obeying because of the intellectual
knowledge that an action is correct based on scripture in spite of the fact that
one’s heart or emotions may be screaming otherwise. Nor is obedience virtuous only
because one wants to do so. The child eats his peas in submission to his parents
while the parents relish them for their own sake. Very often action must preceed
attitude but it is always right to do the right thing. Giving is always the right
thing. Just as God gave and Christ gave, so we should give. “A student is not above
his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Lk 6:40)
When we are “fully trained” we will give! Like the 4th Commandment (Honoring Parents),
giving is a “commandment with a promise.” In Malachi 3 we read of a back-slidden
Israel whose apostasy was illustrated in part by their failure in the area of giving.
God goes so far as to call it robbery. He asks them to return to Him and anticipates
their question by saying “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’” One
part of the answer comes in verse 10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,
that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and
see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it.” This promise to bless is
echoed in the New Testament: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Lk 6:38)
It is not enough simply to know these truths. The faith by which “men of old gained
renown” is active. Hebrews 11, the “Faith Chapter,” is one verse of “understanding”
(11:3) followed by 34 verses of action. For us this means actually getting
out the checkbook, praying, writing the check, and placing it in the offering. The
Building Ministry is an important work of Calvary Bible Church whose fruit will
be revealed in eternity. God says to Israel, and to us, “Test me in this and see…”