“Sometimes being a manager feels like babysitting grown adults,” said an executive. (Hindustan Times, 4 September 2025) The employees refuse to grow up, take responsibility, take ownership, take initiative, and persevere until the task is complete. Paul was also frustrated with the lack of spiritual growth of believers in the city of Corinth.
Three kinds of people: Paul writes about three kinds: First, the natural man, who is a descendant of Adam and Eve, rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, the spiritual man, who is born-again and is walking in the Spirit. (I Corinthians 2:14-15) Third, is the carnal (flesh/body) person, who is born-again, continues to be a babe. Which means still lives like a natural man, without much evidence of transformation and renewal of mind. (I Corinthians 3:1) The carnal Christian is on the way to heaven, but slow and not steady.
Fallen nature: A Carnal person is the one who is afflicted by weakness or attraction to sin, which is common to all humans who are sinners. Quite often, the fleshly desires, worldly ambitions, and emotional stress overwhelm that person, who does not have the spiritual resources to resist and overcome.
Solid food: The Word of God is milk to infants, but meat to the mature. When a believer is not trained in the discipline of meditating and applying the Word, is unable to grow to digest meat. They lack a renewed mind. (Romans 12:2) When they do not obey what they know, they will not be able to learn more and grow. Instead of being led by the Spirit, they are led by the sight and sound of the world. (Galatians 5:16)
Junk food: Another reason is taking a lot of junk food or side dishes like pickles or jam, or sauce. The preaching and teaching that are based on human wisdom, rhetoric, and eloquence. Their ‘taste buds’ are adapted to junk food, so they cannot receive solid food.
Malnourished: First, they do not feel hungry for the Bible. Second, such believers are dependent on others for spiritual counsel, strength, and wisdom.
Do I have a healthy spiritual life?