Maturity Is Not About Knowing More
Why is it that some Christians who know God’s word are so critical, meanspirited, and judgmental? They’ve obviously studied God’s word for many years, but they have what I call a Pharisaical mindset. They are grumpy, arrogant, and act as though they don’t ever struggle with sin. They are unapproachable and cause nonbelievers to hate Christianity, the church, and Christians in general. Jesus had some choice words for these haters that might surprise you.
Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Knowledge puffs up self while love and true maturity build up others. Knowledge by itself produces pride and pride comes before a fall. Biblical knowledge without application and action is very harmful.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
What we truly know can be seen in what we do, not just in what we say. Maturity isn’t just about knowing more, it’s about life transformation. Transformation in how we love and how we live. God’s word convicts us through the Holy Spirit to submit more and more areas of our lives to the Lord’s truth. Once we see an area of our lives that isn’t honoring God, we are responsible to for bringing that sin or wound to Christ so that we can be set free. One of the Religious leaders asked Jesus, of all the commandments, which is the most important? Jesus answers clearly.
Matthew 22:33-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
