3 More Things You Must Give Up If You Want to Grow Up

According to blogger and self-improvement writer, Moreno Zugaro “when native tribes in Africa want to catch a monkey, they drill a hole into a rock or tree – large enough for a monkey’s hand, but too small for a clenched monkey fist.”

Zugaro says they then fill it with peanuts “Once a monkey grabs the treat, it can’t get its hand out of the hole anymore. It panics, holding on to the very thing that keeps it trapped.

“Often, we are that monkey,” he opines.

This is frequently true regarding spiritual growth. Too many people are holding on to the very things that are holding them back. “The first step towards getting somewhere,” once wrote J. P. Morgan “is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” This involves giving up whatever is keeping you from growing up.

Two weeks ago we introduced this idea, “You Have to Give Up to Grow Up.” Last week we suggested three things we need to give up. Today let’s consider three more.

#1 Fear

I haven’t counted them, but it’s been said there are 365 admonitions in the Bible to “fear not.” One for every day of the year.

Caty Medrano published an article called the “Top 10 Strong Human Fears.” She explains them in detail, but they’re pretty self-explanatory.

10. Losing Your Freedom
9. The Unknown
8. Pain
7. Disappointment
6. Misery
5. Loneliness
4. Ridicule
3. Rejection
2. Death
1. Failure

Fear will negatively impact every area of your life, and it will impede, if not totally negate your spiritual growth. The one talent man in Jesus’ parable failed to grow his talent, because he admitted and lamented, “I was afraid” (Matt, 25:25) Fear paralyzed him. But what was he afraid of? Afraid of making a mistake? Afraid of failure? Afraid he didn’t measure up to the 5 talent man? Regardless, Jesus condemned the fearful man who wouldn’t give up his fear. He called him a “wicked and slothful servant.”

Don’t allow fear to foil your spiritual growth. Give it up. And remember this.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

#2 Regrets

Anyone with a conscience can look back, regretting past sins. Our regret may show sorrow, demonstrate humility, and issue itself in repentance. However, wallowing in regret will hinder us from moving forward and growing spiritually.

“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future,” observed motivational speaker and author Steve Maraboli.

The apostle Paul had much to regret as a persecutor of God’s people. He consented to the death of Stephen. He made havoc of the church. He opposed and did many things contrary to Jesus. Yet he could toward the end of life he wrote, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Give up regret. It hinders your healing and hurts your future growth.

#3 Worry

The problem of worry is as old as humankind. People worry about the stock market. Job security. The moral condition of our world. Upcoming elections. Health issues. Computer viruses. Tax deadlines. Parenting problems. Marital conflicts. Identity thief. National security. And saving enough for retirement. The list is endless.

Of course, every age has had its own pressures and problems to cope with. Jesus’ day was no different. In his famous Mountain Message, the Master addresses the issue of worry.

Read Matthew 6:19-34.

Overcoming worry begins with ordering our priorities correctly. The Lord precedes his admonition, “do not worry” with 3 spiritual principles. (1) When my values are right, I won’t worry about the unimportant things in life. (2) When my vision is clear, I won’t worry about the distractions of life. (3) When my Master is God, I won’t worry about who’s in control of my life.

Worry wastes time that could be profitably invested in “growing in grace and in knowledge” (2 Pet. 3:18). Worry will weaken your worship. Disrupt your discipleship. Diminish your ministry. Decrease your joy. And retard your spiritual growth.

We’ve observed 6 things you need to give up to grow. There may be 16 or 60. What do you need to give up in order to grow up?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman