When times are hard and stressful, it can be easy to so focus on those difficulties that spiritual growth takes a backseat and some people coast into inactivity.
In his efforts to strengthen the Corinthians, the apostle Paul said he could not speak to them as being spiritual since they were yet carnal. Using “milk” and “meat” as metaphors, he said that they were unable to tolerate strong teaching (meat), so he fed them with milk, treating them as “babes” (1 Cor. 3:1,2). Their carnal distractions prohibited growth.
Being dull of hearing, the Hebrews not only had not made progress in their spiritual growth, they had gone backwards to where they had “need again that someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not solid food” (Heb.5:11-14).
We must put away all carnal things and, “as newborn babes, long for (desire) the spiritual milk which is without guile, that [we] may grow thereby unto salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2). Have we lost our appetite for the pure word of God? Lest we forget: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18).