Goldfish

I find goldfish to be interesting. I have only owned one in my life and that was over 45 years ago and if I remember correctly that did not last long. A goldfish is one of the few pets that can be flushed and replaced seemingly without anyone noticing or caring. If you are a goldfish lover please don’t call or write about this to me, you should know by now that I am mostly kidding. Mostly.
What I find interesting is this… the goldfish that lives in a small fish bowl will stay small enough to live in that small space for however long it lives. Meaning that the goldfish will not out grow his environment. On the other hand you can take that small goldfish from the confines of the small table top fish bowl and put it in a pond or tank and it will grow to be a fairly large fish. Some reports have goldfish growing to be 30 to 40 pounds and almost four feet long. In theory there is no limit to how large a goldfish can grow if given the opportunity. The only thing that keeps a goldfish from growing is its environment or the size of the body of water in which it lives.
Spiritually speaking you and I are in similar circumstances when it comes to how much we can grow spiritually. Your spiritual growth is greatly determined by the environment in which you are living. So ask yourself this question, is your environment helping you to grow spiritually or are you living in circumstances which are inhibiting your spiritual growth? Think about that for a moment…
Do your friends help or encourage your daily walk with Jesus? Does your family support you in your desire to be faithful? Are the places and events that you frequent or participate conducive to spiritual growth? Do you want to grow spiritually? Be honest with your answers.
If you are wondering why God is not blessing you or why you don’t experience the same type of spiritual growth as other Christians you know then it is time for you to take a close look at your environment. The only thing keeping your from growing spiritually in your daily walk with Jesus is you and the circumstances you keep yourself living in.
Here is something else to think about. If your total Christian experience is the confines of a church building and participating only in “church events” such as Bible class and worship and other events and activities in which only Christians attend, then it is time for you to get out of the fish tank. God does not intend for your Christian walk to be in the confines of the church setting. Real spiritual growth happens outside the protection of the church building away from the spoon fed fish food.
So take that leap of faith out of the fish bowl and into the ocean and become what God has created you to be. God has an amazing adventure in store for you, but it’s out there….further than you can see, but not further than you can swim. Come on in… the water is fine.
Love God. Go Love Others.