Martin Luther King Jr. taught that a complete life has three dimensions — length, breadth and height. Luke 2:52 gives us four, and it does not begin where he began.
Luke 2:52 — And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Martin Luther King Jr. preached that there are three dimensions to a complete life: length, breadth and height.
By length he meant the inward concern for one's own welfare — the drive that pushes a person forward, the motivation that propels them towards their own goals and ambitions. By breadth he meant the outward concern for the welfare of others: the human touch, help given, kind deeds done. By height he meant the upward reach for God. You need all three, he said, to have a complete and balanced life.
That is a good definition as far as it goes. But look carefully at where he began.
The trouble with starting inside yourself
King held that the length of life is the inward concern for one's own welfare, and that this concern is what causes a person to push forward and achieve. That is very close to what young people are taught every day:
- Look inside — everything is in you.
- Inside you there is a little god of strength, power, motivation and resilience.
This is New Age teaching, and the Bible makes it plain that we need help from God.
Philippians 2:13 — For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Without Christ, human beings can do absolutely nothing.
John 15:5 — …without me ye can do nothing.
Jeremiah 10:23 — O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
We are either directed by God or by Satan. There is no third option, and there is no self-contained engine inside a person that runs on nothing. Connecting with Christ is the production line for holistic growth and for true prosperity.
Four dimensions, not three
The Bible gives a more comprehensive view than three dimensions, and it gives it in a single verse. Luke 2:52 points us to four areas of growth and development, and together they form the length, the breadth, the height and the depth of a complete life.
The four dimensions of a complete lifeLuke 2:52 in one line names four axes of growth. None of them is a step towards another — they grow together, or the life is out of shape.
The life of Christ gives the true picture and the real power of an ideal life. His was a life of steady, holistic growth — a purposeful progression and a true development.
Christ increased. He grew and developed into a successful Man. Adam was created perfect; Christ grew and developed into perfection. His daily life was a beautiful balance of real, natural growth. His human nature and His experience were real, and His childhood innocence and growth were real.
The first dimension: He increased in wisdom
This must be the starting point for all people — not the inward look, but wisdom.
Wisdom is the quality of being wise: to have experience, true knowledge and righteous judgment. It is the ability to make sensible decisions, to think analytically, and to reason soundly.
And this wisdom comes from above. It does not come from within any of us.
Proverbs 3:7 — Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Wisdom is asked for, not manufacturedThe promise in James is unconditional and unembarrassing — God gives liberally, and upbraideth not.
James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Proverbs 9:10 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 14:27 — The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
What wisdom actually is
- Intelligence and intuition — the ability to understand the deep truths of God.
- Prudence — the ability to govern oneself and to conduct good behaviour throughout life.
- Shrewdness and good judgment in the management of affairs.
The head and the mind first
Christ increased in wisdom — the head and the mind first. This has to do with His intellectual growth and His moral deportment:
- His mind was healthy, and filled with knowledge and brilliant ideas.
- His mind was sharp, and filled with godly inspiration.
- His mind was focussed on God and influenced by the Spirit.
- He had a good knowledge concerning God and His perfect will.
Why this dimension comes first
The first dimension of growth has to do with the mind. If the mind is in good condition, everything else takes its shape from that. If we do not increase in the wisdom of God — if we do not retain Him in our thoughts — the enemy will invade that ground and impede our growth.
Where the mind is compromised, so much else follows it: reasoning, learning, communication, decision making and a great deal besides. This is why the first dimension of a progressive life begins here. Interpersonal skills, personal growth and true prosperity all begin with the mind.
Philippians 2:5 — Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
He increased in wisdom. We too must do the same.
This is the first of four. Luke 2:52 names wisdom, stature, favour with God and favour with man, and the remaining three dimensions will follow in this series.
If you would like to go further now, the study on getting to know Jesus works through the law, sin and saving grace, and The Sanctuary is the surest way to become acquainted with Christ Himself. You may also want to read Inspecting Your House on the work of a calm and reflective day.
If any of this raises something you would like to talk through, the team reads every message: ask a Bible question, or send a prayer request.
First published at https://timeisathandlive.org/blog/growing-stronger-wiser-and-better-every-day — Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries. Read more studies at timeisathandlive.org.
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