One Trait at a Time: Many Christians Don’t Try
Wisdom Scripture
Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Wisdom Quote
wise (up) verb
synonyms: inform 2, acquaint, advise, apprise, clue (or clew), fill in, notify, post, tell, warn¹
¹ Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus. 1996.
Many Christians Don’t Try
G. K. Chesterton famously said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” (What’s Wrong with the World, Part I, Chapter 5.) Many American Christians put little effort into developing Christlike character. They leave Jesus’s way of life untried.
Why do so many people fail to develop the godly character they desire? Pastor and author Mike Woodruff identifies a possible cause: “After following Christ for ten years, many fail to see much change. Why? Because all they’ve done is repeat ‘year one’ ten times. Spiritual growth requires more discipline and sacrifice than most expect (or are willing to give).” (Mike Woodruff, Friday Update, May 16, 2025.)
The Gymnast. When our son David was young, he aspired to be a gymnast. He saw strong men competing in the Summer Olympic Games, performing incredible feats like holding an iron cross on the rings and executing backflips on the floor exercise. But you can’t become a gymnast simply by watching television.
David determined to become a gymnast. He joined a team and worked with a coach, devoting hours every week to getting in shape and practicing skills on various apparatuses. Gradually, his body gained muscle, and he learned to straddle the pommel horse, spin over the high bar, and jump into flips over the vault.
The Runner. You may not be able to compete as a gymnast, but the average, relatively healthy person can train to run a 5K, even if they have never run before. Here’s a classic training plan: Build from short intervals of running to a continuous 30-minute run by doing three running workouts per week, with rest or cross-training on other days.
The Musician. Learning a foreign language or playing the piano requires taking lessons and practicing regularly, step by step. Over time, you’ll gain proficiency. It baffles me that so many Christians do not apply this simple concept to their spiritual lives. Consistent effort is essential to all personal growth, yet many overlook it in spiritual development.
