Joy in Growing in Christ

One of the primary causes of conflict in marriage are arguments over what might be called “Division of Labor” issues. In other words, who is responsible for what in a marriage? Which tasks belong to which person? Who is going to take out the garbage, who is going to do the dishes or the laundry, who is going to dust, who is going to cut the grass, who is going to feed the dog and the kids? If the bed goes unmade, if the diaper goes unchanged, whose job is it to get that done? A little over 20 years ago, Jackie and I were having one of these conversations. She said something like, “For the last 20 years, I’ve been paying the bills. I get cranky and stressed when I have to pay the bills.” Well, I’d kind of noticed that too. So I said, “Honey, from now on, you don’t have to worry about paying the bills. You will never have to pay another bill.” And she hasn’t. Now what she doesn’t know is that I haven’t been paying our bills either. We’re deeply in debt, in a lot of financial trouble, but she has been far less stressed, at least until now.” This Sunday we are going to talk about the urgency and necessity of Spiritual Growth. Whether you are growing spiritually or not is the most important thing about you. It is the single best indicator of things like the quality of your marriage, the kind of children you will raise, and the quality of your friendships. Spiritual growth determines the habits that you will form and the legacy that you will leave. Spiritual growth is how people with addictions become people without addictions, how people who lack wisdom gain wisdom, and how people without joy become joyful. But when it comes to spiritual growth, what is the division of labor? In other words, whose job is it to grow me, anyway? Is spiritual growth my job, or is it God’s job? Join us this weekend as we discuss the joy that comes from a vibrant relationship of trust and obedience to God.