“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Immaturity.

An immature Christian is hard to please and easy to offend.

Does that describe you? You offended?

The guy who wrote this is writing the letter to the Philippians from prison. Did you read that? He is in prison for his faith! And he is contented.

How? What is the secret?

Paul tells us, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”

You want to know the secret?

It’s Jesus, of course! “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

This verse has nothing to do with lifting crazy amount of weights or running a race super, super fast. This has to do with finding peace and contentment in all circumstances in Jesus.

So, how are you doing?

You contented? The secret is Jesus.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Impulsiveness.

You have been working out every day. You have been watching what you eat, avoiding the foods you know are not good for you. You have been drinking water. You have been going to bed at a good hour and waking up early.

Impulsiveness.

Out of nowhere you have the urge to splurge! And before you know it, you’re chowing down on a double bacon cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake.

Impulsiveness.

You have been disciplined to put money away every paycheck. You have been careful to invest wisely. You have fought the urge to make unnecessary purchases.

Impulsiveness.

Out of nowhere you have the urge to splurge! And before you know it, you are now the new owner of a set of 50 Shamwow towels!!!

Impulsiveness.

What is the opposite of impulsiveness? Discipline. Stay the course.

Most champions, winners, and spiritually maturing individuals are who they are because they stay the course. Because they remain disciplined.

Impulsiveness is the trait that will keep you from developing as a disciple of Jesus.

“Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God’” (Mark 10:24b).

“How hard it is to ender the Kingdom of God…”

That’s what Jesus said. And, he meant it. We don’t normally think of it this way. We tend to think that following Jesus and entering the Kingdom of God is the most reasonable thing for us to do.

The context for this passage is Jesus’ encounter with a rich young ruler. The rich young ruler runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees before him and asks Jesus what he has to do to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus responds to his question by telling him to keep the commandments – referring to the Ten Commandments. To which the young man responds, surprisingly, that he has faithfully kept all of God’s commands.

Wow! That’s some confidence!

What is surprising, is that the gospel writer tells us that Jesus is in agreement with the rich young ruler. We are told, “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21).

Wow! That’s impressive!

Then, Jesus tells him the one thing that’s keeping this young man from the kingdom of heaven – “One thing you lack. Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).

This young man had kept all the commandments of God. This man had lived his life right. This man was an upstanding man.

But, one thing he lacked.

For him, it was his money and wealth. The point is not necessarily about money and wealth. The question is what is the one thing which you treasure even more than Jesus? What is the one thing that remains unsurrendered to Jesus. It is what you treasure, what remains unsurrendered to Jesus that impedes your spiritual growth and maturity.

It is that which we treasure more than Jesus, the thing that remains unsurrendered to Jesus that is an impedance to our spiritual growth and maturity.

What is the one thing you lack? What do you treasure more than Jesus?

“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God.”