The Mature Mind (5)

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 1 Corinthians 14.23, 24

Minds in gear
We need to remember that, in the larger context of this passage, Paul is instructing the Corinthians not to be children in their thinking (v. 20), but to be mature, to exercise the mind of Christ which they have because they belong to Him (1 Cor. 2.16).

It is childish to babble on and chatter away, no matter the language you’re using, only to hear yourself speak, without regard for edifying others (vv. 2, 3). A person who is mature in his thinking is sensitive to others and knows how to season his words with grace appropriate to every situation or need, so that others will be edified, and not just confused (Col. 4.6; Eph. 4.29).

As we have seen, a mature mind is one that (1) regards the concerns of others as more important than its own and (2) makes plans and takes actions that build others up, so that real people benefit in real ways from the fruit of such mature thinking.

And, as Paul explained, to have a mature mind, we need (3) to ground our thinking in the whole counsel of God in Scripture – all of Scripture, at ever-deeper levels of understanding and thought, including those parts of Scripture that counsel us in seeking the wisdom of God throughout His world.

Now Paul gives us a fourth characteristic of a mature mind: (4) They are mature in mind who exercise their mind to understand the outcomes and consequences of any possible course of action. In other words, a mature mind thinks through whatever might be done in a situation, in order, as much as possible, to foresee the results of thinking and acting before actually beginning to act.

We’re thinking with the mind of Christ when we get our minds in gear before our tongues or actions are engaged.

Realizing the Kingdom
To put this in a clearer light, we might say that we are mature in mind when we operate with a view to realizing the kind of Kingdom outcomes which we are learning from God, and which we can envision in their outworking within our sphere of influence, will, and power. This means thinking in terms of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and what these might look like as they come to expression in every area of our lives (Rom. 14.17, 18).

Every believer has a “sphere of influence,” as Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 10.13-18. That sphere of influence, which we refer to as our Personal Mission Field, defines the social and cultural settings in which we as believers are called to live out our faith. There we encounter and relate to the people to whom God has sent us, like Jesus, to bring near the blessings of His Kingdom. This is where we seek the Kingdom of God, to realize more of its presence, promise, and power.

People thinking with mature minds are always thinking, envisioning, and planning so that what they are learning about Jesus might be seen in all their relationships, roles, and responsibilities. Right now, parts of our Personal Mission Fields are in disarray – if not in our lives, then in the lives of others. God has blessed us with the mind of Christ so that we can bring His blessings of order, beauty, goodness, and truth into every place and person. The Kingdom of God consists in power for changed lives (1 Cor. 4.20), and the more we think through what that should look like, the more we may expect to realize the Kingdom outcomes we are planning and desiring.

They who are mature in their thinking can see the newness of Christ bringing changes in their lives at home and work, in the community, at church, and in the larger world (cf. Heb. 2.5-9). Such people study and think about ways to improve their relationships – how to encourage their fellow-believers in their walk with and work for the Lord, and how to present the Good News of Jesus to those who do not yet know Him. And they plan for the kind of real-life transformations that refract the glory of God into their everyday experience (1 Cor. 10.31).

The Kingdom of God is realized in increments, usually small and scarcely noticeable. But they don’t just happen. Unless we think in Kingdom terms, we will not be able to realize Kingdom progress in how we live.

Two worlds at once
They who are acting out of mature minds thus live in two worlds at once, the one that is and the one that is coming on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6.10), to which they intend to contribute through their service to the Lord. Knowing that they are called to “make the most of every opportunity” for serving the Lord (Eph. 5.15-17), and that seeking the Kingdom of God involves understanding what that Kingdom would look like in its outworking (Matt. 6.33; 5.13-19), those who are mature in their thinking are always seeking to bring the real world of their daily experience into line with the ideal world of their vision for the Kingdom.

To that end they prayerfully ponder, prepare, plan, and prosecute their daily activities toward the realization of specific outcomes in line with the Kingdom of God, across the entire spectrum of their activities, responsibilities, and interests. Everything in their lives is ground to be gained, held, and improved for the Kingdom of God. As citizens and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, believers who are mature in their thinking think “Kingdom” into every moment, place, activity, situation, and opportunity.

Here there will always be room for growth and improvement. We’ll need to do some more reading, engage in conversations about the Kingdom of God, participate in a course of study, and spend much more time in prayer, thinking about the outcomes we should be seeking as we seek the Kingdom of God in our lives and our Personal Mission Fields.

Obviously, this is not work for children. This is what people with mature minds do, and it’s how the Kingdom of God makes progress in our lives and in the world.

For reflection
1.  In what specific ways does seeking the Kingdom of God factor into your weekly planning?

2.  What are some things we might expect to see as the Kingdom comes to fruition in our lives? In our Personal Mission Fields?

3.  How can Christians encourage one another to be more “Kingdom-seeking” in their prayers, planning, and daily lives?

Next steps – Demonstration: What opportunities for Kingdom progress are available to you today? What will it look like if the reality of the Kingdom comes to expression in your life in those opportunities? How can you prepare for this right now? What step will you take in the way of Kingdom initiatives today?

T. M. Moore

What does it mean to “think Kingdom”? Our book, The Kingdom Turn, can help you in gaining a clearer vision of the Kingdom and in living for the Kingdom in all you do. Order your free copy by clicking here.

All the installments in this “Strong Souls” series are available in PDF by clicking here. Check out our newest feature, Readings from the Celtic Revival (click here).

Thanks for your prayers and support
If you find ReVision helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.