MEASURING PROGRESS
One thing yet remains that
needs to be looked at to make this study complete and that is how
do we measure our spirituality? Surely, the more we are like Jesus,
the more spiritual we are. Certainly, this is the only true measure,
but it’s a measure that is very difficult to evaluate as every
time we take measure we will come to the same conclusion, the conclusion
of having a long way to go. To be like Jesus is so infinitely greater
than anything we can achieve, even after a lifetime of consistent
growth. So how do we measure our level of spirituality? It seems that
we are constantly attempting to do just that. It is recommended that
we take stock in ourselves and see where we are in the faith. Have
we grown any in our Christian walk this week, month, or year? It is
true that if we are not currently growing in our relationship with
the Savior, then we moving backward. Let’s look first at what
is not a measure of our spirituality that we might better understand
what is.
Some might propose that we examine our Christian standards and the
activities we have done for the Lord. However, can outward measures
provide a reasonable assessment of what has gone on inside? In Matt.
23:23-28 we read, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the
weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides,
which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup
and platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess (self-indulgence).
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and
platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited (whitewashed)
sepulchres (tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even
so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are
full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” This passage clearly shows
that outward appearances or standards are not a valid measure of our
spirituality and that the works that are done for Jesus are also invalid
measures as they fail to measure our inward relationship with the
Lord Jesus. Anyone with a strong will can discipline themselves to
achieve these outward appearances, but yet lack a real and vital relationship
with the Lord Jesus. How then do we measure our spirituality?
Jesus gave us the answer to this in Matt. 7:20 where He says, “Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.” So then our fruits are
the proper measure of our spirituality. Some preachers have told us
that fruits are “souls.”
