5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
The Christian journey begins with faith, but it cannot end there. In fact, ending there is not even an option. To “make every effort” literally means to attack this command with eagerness and earnestness.
Let’s make a quick study of the additions we are to seek after. After reading each one, stop and let it sink in before going to the next:
– Goodness is a very attribute of Christ himself (1:3) and calls us to be experts in the field of moral excellence.
– Self-control is a work of the Spirit not of our own strength (Galatians 5:23), and is the exact opposite of “greed.” Not just monetary greed, but greediness in the heart- a hunger for more power, position or even sexual immorality.
– Patience (or perseverance) is the ability to see your circumstances through God’s eyes and not your own (Romans 5:3, Hebrews 12:2).
– Godliness carries an “everyday-faith” connotation. A good way to say it is “making Jesus the center of everyday life.”
– Brotherly kindness and love conclude this list, reminding us that it is impossible to please God and not love those he died to redeem. (1 John 4:7-20).
Why concern ourselves with Spiritual growth? Verses 8-9 show that a lack of concern results in ineffective, unproductive, and nearsighted—or self-absorbed—people.
Do you know any Christians like that? Do you want to know how they got there? Do you want to know how you keep from becoming the same thing?
Do not use this passage to assess anyone’s spirituality but your own. Today – consider which virtue is lacking in your life. What practical, everyday step can you take to add it to your faith? Pray and ask God to plant the seeds of each of these virtues in your heart, that you may be fruitful and productive in your Spiritual walk. He is faithful, and will listen when you pray.
Pastor Brandon Baldwin