Grow Up - November 5

Read Galatians 4:1-3 

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 

Reflect 

How is being a child similar to being a slave? 

Did your parents ever say something along the lines of, “as long as you live under my roof, you’ll obey my rules”? Maybe you’ve even said these words yourself! The fact is, kids need guidance. They can’t be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want. They are still learning and need time to prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood. But there does come a time when children reach maturity and are no longer under the authority of their parents or guardians. 

In today’s verses, Paul compared heirs who are still children to slaves. They may be owners of an enormous estate but as minors, they are not free to manage that estate. Instead, similar to slaves and servants, they are under supervision and they must respect and obey those in authority over them. They have masters. Once they reach adulthood, however, the heir is set free. Presumably having been well-trained by their guardians, they now have the freedom to make their own decisions and manage their own affairs as responsible citizens. 

Paul used the analogies of children and servants to describe life under the law. When we were unbelievers, it was like being a child or a slave. We were trapped in worldliness. We had to be told to do this but not that, etc. We were held captive to “the elementary principles of the world.”  

In Colossians 2, Paul used the term “elemental spirits of the world” (v.8) as he was addressing a false doctrine that was creeping into the churches of Colossae and Laodicea. Similar to the false teaching threatening the Galatian churches, the false messages in Colossians were causing believers to return to worldly traditions and alternative belief systems rather than solely trusting in Christ. 

He wrote: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8). He went on to explain the superiority of Christ and how in Him, believers are made complete and set free from man-made rules and requirements.  

In Colossians 2:20-23, he continued: “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in world, do you submit to regulations—’Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” If you continue to read on in Colossians 3, you’ll see Paul urge them to put on the new self in Christ and put everything earthly in them to death. In other words, he urges them to continue to grow up in Christ and not cling to worldly, childishness like legalism. 

Friends, we are no longer children. We are no longer slaves. In Christ, we have died to the things of this world. So we shouldn’t keep returning to legalistic, manmade traditions and rituals that rule over us but have no power to save us. If we are being told that we can add to or accomplish our own salvation through these things, we are being told a lie from spirits of the world. But we have the high and lofty truths of heaven given to us in Christ! We are no longer slaves, we are no longer children. We are set free. We are adult sons and daughters of the King and citizens of heaven. Heirs with Christ! Why in the world would we continue to submit ourselves to the childishness of this world? Instead, if we’ve received Christ, let’s grow up and walk in Him. 

Respond  

Lord, thank You for the truth of Your Gospel that sets me free from the slavery of this world and man-made religious rituals. Help me to grow up in You. Teach me to walk forward in Your freedom never to return to the basic, elemental, and childish things of this world. Amen. 

Reveal  

Think of someone younger in their faith—or even someone still trying to figure out what they believe—who looks up to you in some way. Instead of offering them advice or correction, spend time walking beside them. Invite them to join you in something simple you already do: a morning walk, a cup of coffee, or helping with a small project. As you talk, be honest about your own growth—times you’ve stumbled, learned, and kept going. Showing someone what it looks like to keep growing, rather than pretending you’ve arrived, helps them see that maturity in faith isn’t about perfection—it’s about walking forward together in grace.