1 Corinthians 3:1
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.
I’ve been called quite a few names over the years. When I was in elementary school, Jason liked to call me Dumbo, referring to the elephant with ears so big he could fly. In 1 Corinthians, Paul called the believers “babies.” Both names were grounded in truth. Jason’s purpose was to make fun; Paul’s was to rebuke immature bickering. He reminded the Corinthians, “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even yet you are not able…”
Milk is okay for a period. It provides babies with the nutrients they need in a form they can digest. As babies grow older, the milk must be replaced with more nutritious foods. The same is true of your spiritual intake. What once satisfied your soul’s hungering to grow closer to the Lord will eventually become too little nourishment to support your relationship with Him.
What would you be called by Paul if he witnessed one of your typical days at school or work? Would he be able to talk with you like a mature believer, challenging you to grow closer to the Lord? Or would he have to spend most of his time rebuking your still immature actions? There must come a point in your Christian walk that you decide to put down the bottle and pick up a fork. Until that time, don’t be surprised if your claim to be a follower of Christ looks about as awkward as taking a bottle out of your lunch bag at school.