I’ve been fascinated recently by a number of life hacks that have caught my attention. I’m a handyman/fix-it guy and I’ve also enjoyed original menu cooking a lot the last two years. Want to guess what’s coming across my social media feed a lot these days? Life hacks on handyman projects and dozens of original four and six-ingredient recipes. They’re so easy dash and they always taste – yummmm – so good! But do they? Really? More importantly, does this approach work for all of life?

Many people see the concept of spiritual growth like they see another reel on Facebook or Instagram. There has to be a life hack to accomplish spiritual growth and development. Leaders are looking for the same thing for their churches. Desperate to find the next healthy functioning servant-hearted Deacon or elder for their church, they’re constantly discouraged and stuck with the same guys they had last year, who are in the same place they were last year.

Mind you, these pastors have taken all the life hacks available to them: Discipleship ladders, leadership ladders, growth pathways, “disciple now” courses and retreats and seminars, and conferences. There may have been some progress, but it’s just so slow.

The great encouragement I want to give you today is a reality check: personal development or leadership savvy, or spiritual growth cannot be reduced to a life hack. We cannot grow disciples quickly any more than we can grow vegetables quickly. The growth process remains the same as it has for generations: 1. Prepare the soil, 2. Find good, dependable seed. 3. Wait for the opportune time to plant. 4. Water that seed, and then wait…. If growth happens, we nourish the plant with more water, removal of weeds, pruning, and – you guessed it – more water.

It’s no coincidence that Jesus used agricultural illustrations to describe the process of growth to his disciples. It was not simply because they were in an agrarian culture. He knew these stories were going to last for generations and he knew that eventually men would get back to trying to depend upon themselves once again whatever it is they would need.

There is no substitute for abiding in the vine. There is no substitute for growing the seed of the gospel in good soil watered by the word of faith and a heart of love and a face full of joy. But these are not life hacks. These are fruit of the Spirit manifest in a mature believer who then passes those traits on to a young disciple with tender leaves longing for something better in life.

The great news is, we’re not saying growth takes decades to develop. But it won’t take hours and days and weeks either. If we like the farmer Jesus described; that is, if we can be patient and dependent, faithful and present, beautiful growth happens – in His time.