Hebrews 5: Is that a Milk Mustache?

In Hebrews 5:11-14, Paul exhorts the readers to hear the Word of God and grow spiritually. If they don’t, they will remain babes in Christ or spiritual infants consuming “milk” or the basics of the Christian life instead of growing in spiritual maturity and consuming great Biblical truths or “meat”.

The Bible is full of rich doctrine and truth that help the believer through this life. If one takes the Word of God seriously and applies it to their heart, they won’t struggle with the same problems, addictions and habits. We should take responsibility for our spiritual growth and develop a closer walk with the Lord over time, graduating from milk to meat. Christians ought not have a milk mustache forever.

There are some stark differences between Christians still consuming milk or struggling with the first steps of their Christian life (faithful Bible reading, faithful church attendance, faithful witnessing) and those that have graduated to eating meat (living faithfully, seeking the Lord’s will for their life and studying God’s Word).

A mother’s milk will only help an infant grow so much. If they don’t eventually start consuming solid foods (meat) their growth will be hindered. Christians need to seek to grow through consuming God’s Word or they will not grow spiritually.

Infants are dependent on others. They depend on their mother for milk. Without the mother, the babe is helpless. Christians ought not rely on others for help and assistance, they should seek grow spiritually through studying God’s Word. They should become consistent and reliable in their service and not require “hand holding.”

Meat eaters are independent. They can cook and cut their own food without assistance. Similarly, mature Christians can resolve problems and difficulties in their life by studying the Bible and applying it their lives. They are consistent in this.

Infants cry a lot. Christians would do a lot less crying about their problems if they spent more time in God’s Word, coming to a greater understanding of the truth God has for them. They would then have the victory and become mature meat eaters.

While some may still be babes, every Christian must determine to become spiritually mature and not wear a perpetual milk mustache. If they don’t, consider what happened to the Corinthians that refused to grow spiritually:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The Corinthians refused to grow spiritually and as a result, they were carnal and caused strife and hurt feelings in the church. God help us if we always have a milk mustache.