Competence / Productivity

The first mark of maturity we looked at is described using words like understanding, wisdom and discernment. The second mark we considered last week is described using words like discipline, self-control and delayed gratification.

The third mark we now turn our attention to is described by words like diligence, competence and productivity. The first mark is primarily cognitive. The second mark is much more physical. This third mark really brings the first two together and develops into an educated mind and a trained body working together skillfully guided by truth to make a real difference in the world.

Kids play. Adults work. Yes, there are some really strong similarities, and both are healthy, but the main difference is that work accomplishes significant results. Work, in the best sense of the term, changes things and proficiency at task is a mark of maturity.

“When you can snatch the pebble from my hand grasshopper you may leave.”

Competencies in and of themselves do not constitute maturity, but it is hard to imagine that a person could be considered mature while lacking significant life skills.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Col 1:9,10

This passage clearly sets out the first mark of understanding/wisdom. It also talks about us living the day to day life which I would suggest is a disciplined life. But notice it also talks about “bearing fruit in every good work.” And please understand that the latter finds its fulfillment in the presence of the former because both the truth and training give the needed direction for life’s energies to insure that they are in fact significant rather than futile or vain.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples… You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last…” Jn 15:8,16a

Mature people make a positive difference in their world. Mature believers bear fruit that lasts forever.

Notice that corporate maturity as well comes as each member does his/her work.

“… speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:15,16

When it comes to our children, we often think of their maturity as their ability to look after themselves without being dependent upon us or others. We sometimes refer to this as autonomy. It is the ability to ‘stand on our own two feet’ as they say. This has a spiritual parallel also. The author of Hebrews expresses his frustration that those he was addressing still needed to be taught when they should have rather by then been the ones doing the teaching (Heb 5:12).

So, there is some real truth in this idea of ‘independence’. However, this is also where it becomes paradoxical, because we really need to understand that we are not ever ultimately independent. As adults, we need each other too. And Jesus said that without Him we could do nothing (Jn 15).

We are ultimately dependent upon Him, whether for our knowledge or wisdom or self-control or even the skill of our hands. The idea that we are mature when we become competent and productive needs to be understood in light of the fact that our wisdom, our strength and our sufficiency ultimately come from Him.

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2Cor 3:4,5

Our maturity rests in great part in our recognition of and our experience of this greater truth.