SPIRITUAL INTEREST

Victor M. Eskew

 

          Would you say that you are a Christian who possesses a high degree of spiritual interest?  The word “spiritual” can be simply defined as “all things pertaining to God, His will, and His kingdom.”  Interest is defined as “a feeling of excitement that leads to paying attention to, arousing the concern of, and causing involvement in.”  With these definitions now before us, let’s ask again:  “Would you say that you are a Christian who possesses a high degree of spiritual interest?”  On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you measure your spiritual interest if zero is no interest and 10 is total interest?  If your number is below a 7 or 8, you do not have a high degree of spiritual interest.  Let that sink in for a moment.  You are a Christian, but spiritual things are not high on your list of interests.

          Some might ask:  “Why should I be interested in spiritual things?”  First, Christians should be interested in spiritual things because all of them originated in the mind God.  When we refer to God, we are referring to an eternal being (Deut. 33:27).  We are referring to the one who created all things (Heb. 3:4).  We are referring to that being who holds life and death in His hands (Gen. 2:7; Luke 12:20).  We are referring to the God who sits upon the throne of Judgment in the last day (Rev. 20:11-15). 

          Second, a child of God should be interested in spiritual things because these are the things that benefit his soul.  The soul is the inner man that is like unto God (James 3:9).  It is that part of man that continues to be perfected while the tabernacle of one’s body degenerates (2 Cor. 4:16).  It that part of man that will exit the body upon death and go into the unseen realm of the dead (Luke 16:22-23).  Jesus taught that there is nothing more important than one’s soul.  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

          Third, the redeemed should be interested in spiritual things because these are the only things that are lasting in nature.  This world will one day be rolled up like a worn out garment according to the writer of Hebrews.  “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.  They shall perish, but thou remainest:  and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed;  but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Heb. 1:10-12).  God, the Word of God, the church, spiritual treasures, and the souls of the redeemed will last throughout eternity.  “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17).

          These are just three reasons of many as to why every saint should be interested in spiritual things.  Yet, many will admit that they are not as interested as they should be.  Thus, it is imperative that we learn to cultivate an interest in heavenly things.  One of the best places to start our development of spiritual interest is in a study of God’s Word.  God’s Word is designed to make us “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17).  Serious study and meditation upon God’s Word will be difficult for some at the outset.  Remember, the things of God have not been of interest to them.  Thus, they will have to force themselves to learn about those things that will strengthen their spiritual man.  The more they indulge themselves in God’s Word, the more mature and the more interested they will become in spiritual matters.

          Another thing that will help develop spiritual interest is to get your eyes off the things of this world.  This world has the ability to draw our attention to many interesting and fun things.  Many of these things are not sinful in nature.  They simply call for our time, treasures, and talents.  We often spend more time on the physical things of this world than we do on the spiritual.  Paul tells us plainly to “set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).  Jesus teaches us the same lesson in Matthew 6:19-21.  He says:  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal:  for where your treasure is, there will you heart be also.”  The Hebrew penman also encourages us to redirect our focus in Hebrews 12:1-2.  “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

          Another practice that will help us to become more spiritual is to remember we are mortal beings.  The sentenced placed upon Adam was passed upon all men.  “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19).  None of us will live forever.  There will be a day of death (Heb. 9:27).  Thus, we must not be like the rich farmer who was enamored with all his wealth.  In the account God proclaims the man’s death.  He would learn that very day that profits, goods, things, toys, and assets mean very little.  We are going to pass from this life and leave them behind.  “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:  then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20).  Dear readers, when we draw our last breath in the physical world, our spiritual man will enter into the spiritual world.  When we get there, our interest in spiritual things will be increased immensely.  However, then it will be too late to have a deep spiritual interest.  We need to develop that interest now knowing that eternity is coming.

          If every Christian had a deep spiritual interest, many things in the body of Christ would change.  There would be less ignorance.  There would be more spiritual understanding.  There would be less sin.  There would be more holiness.  There would be less fear.  There would be more soul-winning.  There would be less complaining.  There would be more thanksgiving.  There would be less division.  There would be more unity.  There would be less dereliction of duty.  There would be more use of God-given talents.  There would be fewer church doors shutting.  There would be more church buildings being built.  And, as the old hymn states:  There would be none or self, and all of thee.