Baptist City Blog

Whether it is a business, church or an organization, one of the key goals is to grow. Most pastors want their church to grow, and they constantly look for ideas on how to make it grow. A businessman doesn't start a business just to stay in a corner shop, but he starts it with an intent to grow. He understands that the larger the business grows, the more money he can make. No matter what the organism is, growing properly will determine the strength of the growth and the ability to exist.

When God delivered Israel from Egypt, His goal was to take them to the Promised Land so they could possess it. God understood that there were growth principles that must be applied to keep Israel from allowing growth to kill them. It seems impossible for growth to be destructive, but if growth is not attained properly, it can be very destructive. God gave three principles that must be followed if you want to keep growth from becoming destructive.

First, be careful to pace your growth. God told Israel that He would drive out the inhabitants “by little and little.” Fast growth can often be unhealthy growth. If Israel had possessed the land too quickly, they wouldn't have had the infrastructure to adequately care for the land. Many churches have grown so fast that they became weak because they didn't have enough strong Christians to help grow the younger Christians. Gradual growth is not bad. A business that grows too quickly frequently bankrupts itself because it doesn't have the finances to handle the growth. You would be wise to pace your growth so that you can grow with the growth. Don't outpace your ability to handle whatever you are trying to grow.

Second, set a capacity for your growth. God told Moses how much land He would give Israel; that was their capacity. You need to determine how much you can handle and don't try to get bigger than your capacity. This doesn't mean that your capacity won’t grow, but you need to know what you can and cannot handle. Your capacity isn't your potential, but rather a ceiling you set so you can grow with the pace of growth.

Third, set boundaries for your growth. God set boundaries for Israel, and those boundaries were not to yoke up with the nations in that land. You need to set guidelines of what you will and will not do to grow. Many people desire growth so much that they will do anything to grow, even compromise their personal principles. They believe that the end justifies the means. Friend, your integrity is important. If you lose your integrity just to grow, your growth then becomes your destruction. Many pastors have let up on their standards for the sake of growth. Many businessmen have compromised their business standard to grow their business. It is not worth losing your integrity just to grow. Setting guidelines and following them will help you to keep from compromise once growth starts. It is always better to stay small and keep your integrity than it is to grow and lose your honor.

Growth is important, but you better have these principles decided to keep it from destroying you. These principles will set the foundation for healthy growth that will keep you strong for many years.