Consider carefully what you hear
In Corinthians 3:1-4, Paul addresses the readers of his letter by making reference to the fact that he fed them with 'baby food' instead of adult food. Paul was comparing his teachings of the Word to the Corinthians as elementary since they would not understand deeper truths. By reading what the Apostle Paul wrote, we can easily conclude that the assimilation and the understanding of God's Word can be dispensed gradually according to the hearer's level of understanding. From the same passage, we can conclude that there are elementary teachings (baby-food) and deeper teachings (solid food). But Paul wished the Corinthians to hear first the elementary teachings since they were infants spiritually.
There is a good analogy we can draw from this passage: 'if you have an infant child, you will surely feed him/her with baby food (e.g: purity, yogurt...) for a few years before introducing them to real meat. Right?
In the same analogy, the infant child must have a full dentition before eating solid food. But the truth is: 'If the child refuses to eat any baby food (e.g: purity, yogurt...) or to drink milk, then his/her dentition will never grow. The dentition needs the vitamins included in the milk and baby food to grow.
The only way to grow a dentition is by assimilating or absorbing the food in the baby's body.
The food that Paul makes reference to is the Word of God he presented in an elementary manner.
Jesus said: 'my food is to do the will of God' (reference John 4:34).
Jesus would hear the Word from God and practice it. That's how He would absorb His food. In the example of Jesus, we ought to consider what we hear from God as food to be absorbed and as food meant to make us grow. The absorption of God's word is done by practicing It.
Now here is a question:
'If you have an infant child who has not grown any teeth in their mouth, would you feed them with a rump steak?'
Within all reasonable context, you would possibly not do that because the infant is lacking teeth.
In the same way, there are many truths ,teachings and revelations that do not reach people because:
1. They have not grown spiritually OR
2. they are refusing to grow spiritually by refuting the Word of God
As a result (of options 1 and 2), they do not have the spiritual teeth or capacity to absorb spiritual food.
Have you ever seen a child throwing tantrums as a mean to refuse the food given to them? There are believers who also throw tantrums when they hear certain specific parts of the Scriptures that do not go down well with them. So they throw tantrums by posting attacks on social media, complaining and using various types of rants.
A responsible parent would not feed his/her child with a rump steak while the baby does not have teeth...In the same way, there are many Godly visions and revelations that do not get to the children of God that are still infants because they (the infants) are not absorbing the current food given to them.
The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) displays a giving principle of God: 'Before He gives you more in the future, you have to show Him that you can make use of the little He gave you in the now.
This explains why many infants in the Church can't get greater revelations...
Spiritual infants can't move to the next level because they can't absorb the basic 'baby food' presented to them
Check what Jesus said:
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
(Luke 8:16-18)
After preaching on the parable of the sower, Jesus speaks of the purpose of a lamp (please pay attention):' the lamp is meant to lighten its environment'. The Word of God is often compared to a light and It is also compared to food (reference Matthew 4:4), therefore the Word of God as food must serve its purpose which is to' be absorbed through eating'.
And then Jesus adds: 'Consider carefully how you listen.'
Here is a question: 'How do you listen to the Scriptures? How do you listen to the Word of God?
Do you pay attention or do you listen with pre-conceived beliefs? the best way to listen is by hearing the Word of God in a way that we grab and practice what is spoken. In that manner, we will have something.
But Jesus adds this last part:
'Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Those who hear and practice His Word have something and more will be given to them because:
1. the absorption of the Word makes them grow.
2. As they grow, they have developed spiritual teeth to absorb greater messages.
Before I speak about the other group, let me make another analogy:
'When an infant refuses to eat the food you present, you will impose yourself until the kid eats. Right?'
So many spiritual infants battle with the same similar message from God for years....here is my advice: 'just eat the food so that you can move on to the next level.'
Though God is a merciful God, His patience can run out. I know many would disagree on that statement but 'Judgement Day' is an irrefutable proof (out of many) that God's patience can run out.
By refusing the Scriptures and the Word of God, people deprive themselves and they fall within the group of the 'have-not'. One of the reason why many spiritual infants refuse certain parts of the Scriptures or even revelations from God is because they 'think' they have something better.
Well, Jesus said:'..whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Are there parts in the Scriptures that you struggle to accept? Are there personal messages from God that you are struggling to practice?
It would be a horrible thing to live with no visions or revelations...let us consume the Word of God by practicing It. And surely, we will get more of His Word.