chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of
others is the mark of maturity: “When I was a child, I talked like a
child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a
man, I put childish ways behind me.”^10
Today many assume that spiritual maturity is measured by
the amount of biblical information and doctrine you
know. While knowledge is one measurement of
maturity, it isn’t the whole story. The Christian
life is far more than creeds and convictions; it
includes conduct and character. Our deeds must
be consistent with our creeds, and our beliefs must
be backed up with Christlike behavior.
Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy, but a
relationship and a lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is
thinking of others, as Jesus did, instead of ourselves. The Bible
says, “We should think of their good and try to help them by doing
what pleases them. Even Christ did not try to please himself.”^11
Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best
evidence of spiritual growth. This kind of thinking is unnatural,
counter-cultural, rare, and difficult. Fortunately we have help:
“God has given us his Spirit. That’s why we don’t think the same way
that the people of this world think.”^12 In the next few chapters we
will look at the tools the Holy Spirit uses to help us grow.
PURPOSE #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ 183