Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
We are now getting into the meat of chapter 14, studying through V.7-17. Paul stresses the importance of an easily understood message concerning the gospel and growth of babes in Christ into mature believers. It is important for each generation of believers to prepare the next generation to carry the banner of the cause of Christ. We must be clear in our message like a musician playing a beautiful piece of music, or a bugler trumpeting the announcement to troops waiting for orders. Being the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul stressed the need to seek to share truth with each other in the body, and encourage each other in our personal growth.
1 Peter 2:2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:16-17: Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Timothy was Paul’s disciple, who was first scripturally trained by his mother and grandmother.
1 Timothy 1:5: When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Paul gave the analogy of being prepared as a soldier 2 Timothy 2:1-4: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Friends, we are in spiritual warfare, and we must protect ourselves with the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), and protect each other, by fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), and earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3).
We must remember that the goal in edifying / building up the body is to be easily understood, so that all fellow soldiers will be equipped to do the work of the ministry!
Ephesians 4:11-16: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
It is imperative that the body of Christ, as an army, operate in unity, understanding the mission we have been given. The message must simple and clear, easy to be understood by the hearers. This is Paul’s message in these verses.