The Measure of Maturity
In pursuit of maturity in the faith, a question we should ask ourselves is, what does true maturity look like? What do we strive toward? What do we want to emulate? Though there are many ways this could be articulated, consider this simple way:
Maturity as a Christian is a person that is growing in knowledge, obedience, and sharing in equal measure.
In the Western context, these three components of our faith are often lopsided. We tend to highly emphasize a knowledge about God, while our obedience to Him is considerably less, and our sharing of Him, even less than that. Yet, because a person knows a lot about God, they are considered mature.
Know this, of these three components, knowledge is the one that costs the least. It doesn’t require us to put ourselves out there, potentially make a fool of oneself or experience persecution of various kinds as a result. It makes sense that our obedience and sharing would be considerably less. In most cases, practicing them costs more.
“We tend to highly emphasize a knowledge about God, while our obedience to Him is considerably less, and our sharing of Him, even less than that.”
Yes, knowledge of God is greatly important—there are many scriptures that speak to this—but the call is not just to know God, it is to follow Him; to obey Him. As the Bible says, “if you love me, you will obey my commandments.” We are not just called to know about God, we are called to obey Him.
We are also called to share what we have received. Similar to the lepers in 2 Kings 7:9, if we have found such a great blessing, how can we keep this to ourselves? If others are perishing and we know how they can be saved, why would we ever withhold it? Sadly, even though the children’s song warned us, many believers are comfortable with a bushel basket over their light.
From this, please consider this last piece: We want to be people that are growing in the knowledge, obedience and sharing of God, but in the Old Testament the word “know” carried two meanings. One was to know about something, but the other meaning was to have intimacy with. This is why the Scripture says, “Adam knew his wife Eve and they had a son.” May our knowledge about God not just be a matter of facts and details, but also a matter of intimacy.
”…if we have found such a great blessing, how can we keep this to ourselves?”
Yes, we are called to know more about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—about the Word with facts and details—but let these not be just dry facts. We need an intimacy with God if we are to have true maturity. Without sincere intimacy, even the obedience and sharing will be dry, rote and legalistic.
Let us push toward true maturity—growing in knowledge, obedience and sharing in equal measure.