And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Suppose you trusted Christ ten years ago. Have you been a Christian for ten years, or have you been a Christian for one year, ten times over? Maturity is the goal, not just marking your chart for each year of perfect attendance at church. One “Christian” proudly proclaimed, “I haven’t missed Sunday School, even one day, for over forty years.” Immature Christians can frame a certificate on their wall to document such achievements, but what’s the point? Have they grown and matured in their faith? Have you? Have I?

Paul takes dead aim at the Corinthians’ immaturity in no uncertain terms. They are not acting like spiritual people! They are fleshly infants, capable of imbibing only milk, but no mature or deeper teaching. He speaks obviously of spiritual wisdom and understanding. To be sure, immature Christians may quote Scripture, but has it changed their lives. Immature Christians talk about the cross in their salvation experience, but can they talk about the cross in their daily life experience? The immature Christian draws a blank at this last question, for the cross for them is only an historical fact, not a present reality.

The great irony of Paul’s point is that they need to go back to the basics of the cross. Remember, he said earlier that his main focus of ministry is “Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). The Corinthians’ understanding of this was stunted, like a child who does not progress from milk to solid food. The Corinthians could not understand the cross except in its most basic, rudimentary sense—as the entry point to salvation. Most Christians today believe and can articulate the fundamental salvation message. That’s good, but that is only a start. Ask yourself, “How does the cross apply to me today at work, interacting with relatives and family, dealing with conflict in the church?” Many ignore the truth of the cross as impractical, resorting instead to other ways of dealing with life’s issues. That is not solid Christian thinking but fleshly living.

The evidence of their spiritual malnutrition is clear: fleshly living. To this point in Paul’s letter, the first evidence is the divisions among them, the jealousy and strife. Is that not proof enough that something is wrong in their understanding of spiritual truth and life? Their behavior has rendered them incapable of understanding anything deeper than how to be saved.

Lord, I don’t want my life to stagnate, but to grow strong in the Word.