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Day 3) Maturity

Three Measurements Of Maturity

1) The Way You Think

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (1 Cor. 13:8-10 ESV).

If you’re being honest, what is the focus of your thoughts? Is it on you, the things of this world, or is it on God and His Word? There is some debate about what exactly Paul is referencing when he says “when the perfect comes,” but almost all scholars agree that he is referring to Jesus, whether it’s His time on earth that has already occurred or His promise to return one day. Regardless of the specific moment Paul had in mind, the message is clear: Any thought that is disconnected from the person of Jesus Christ is an immature thought. True maturity comes when He becomes the overwhelming object of our thought life. While you can’t read the thoughts of someone you’re interested in, the way they think will be reflected in the decisions they make, so be intentional about considering their choices before getting closer to them.

2) The Words You Speak

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child…” (1 Cor. 13:11a ESV).

How do you speak to people? What words are commonplace in your vocabulary? Do you sound more like an immature child, or someone who is growing in their relationship with Jesus? Of course, all of us start somewhere, and there’s nothing wrong with being a child, but we should be on a course of growth. Jesus is "the Word made flesh" (John 1), and He was incredibly intentional with His words. How would you measure the maturity of your conversations?

3) The Work You Do

“...When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:11b-12 ESV).

In his discussion on maturity, Paul talks about putting “the ways of childhood” behind him. When you’re immature, your primary focus is personal enjoyment and gratification. However, as you grow, you begin to find enjoyment not just in self-serving habits, but in working for God, to the benefit of those around you. Jesus’ primary work was building and establishing a new covenant and a new church to spread the message. What work are you doing? We’re going to take a closer look at the missional aspect of God’s love in the next and final installment of this study.

Big Idea: True spiritual maturity is revealed through the way we think, speak and work. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, our thoughts align more with His, our words reflect His love and our actions become focused on His mission.

Let’s Think About This:

Question 1) How does your current thought life reflect your relationship with God, and how can you shift your focus more toward Him?

Question 2) In what ways have you seen your speech mature over time, and how do your words reveal your growth in Christ?

Question 3) How does your work and the way you serve others reflect your spiritual maturity and commitment to God's mission?