This is the third article in a three-part series examining the Bible’s call for spiritual discernment. You can access the first article here and the second here. Yesterday we learned the bad news that Scripture portrays those who lack spiritual discernment in three ways: They are spiritually immature, they are backslidden, and they are dead. Those who lack discernment will fit into one of these three categories. These are the dangers of ignoring discernment. Today we will look at good news, for the Bible declares that there are many benefits stored up for those who desire discernment, who seek after it and who practice it.
Discernment shows life
We have seen that a lack of discernment is a mark of spiritual death. The Bible makes it clear that a person with no discernment is a person who has not been saved. The opposite is equally true. A person who exhibits spiritual discernment shows that he has spiritual life. All those who are saved must begin to progress in their ability to discern. Proverbs 9:10 tells us “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” The word translated as “insight” is a Hebrew equivalent to “discernment.” Solomon tells us here that to know God is to possess discernment and that knowledge of God is the very starting point for discernment. Those who fear the Lord, those who know God, must be discerning, for God Himself is the very source of discernment. God is also our motive for discernment, for by living lives marked by discernment we bring honor and glory to His name.
The book of Ephesians also draws a clear line between spiritual discernment and spiritual life. Paul, having told his readers how they as Christians have left the kingdom of darkness, admonishes them now to “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Those who know the Lord and have been brought into His kingdom of light, will do their utmost to seek God’s will in discerning what is pleasing to Him. Where there is discernment there is life.
Discernment leads to spiritual growth
Where a lack of discernment leads to backsliding, those who grow in discernment will necessarily grow spiritually. Jesus continually emphasized discernment during His ministry, sometimes scolding those who did not have it and sometimes commending those who did. In Mark 8:17-21, after feeding the four thousand, we find Jesus addressing His disciples after they began to discuss the fact that, even though Jesus just miraculously fed a multitude, they had no bread for themselves.
And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
Jesus scolds the disciples for not understanding, or discerning, what this miracle points to. Though they watched it unfold and ate of the bread, they still did not understand just who Jesus was and what He was going to accomplish. Their lack of growth kept them from understanding. Their lack of discernment was a clear sign of spiritual immaturity.
But then in Matthew 13:16-17 the disciples ask Jesus why he speaks so often in parables. Jesus explains His rationale and commends the disciples for their ability to understand the parables that are so often hidden from others. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” In this case he commends His disciples for exhibiting a level of spiritual maturity. Jesus declared the disciples blessed for their ability to see and perceive. He declared them blessed for their ability to discern. Their spiritual growth was marked by an increase in discernment. Their ability to discern was an unequivocal testament to their spiritual growth.
Discernment leads to maturity
Finally, just as a lack of discernment is a mark of spiritual immaturity, the presence of discernment is a sure mark of maturity. Again, the author of Hebrews warns “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). Christians who are mature are those who have exercised discernment and have learned how to distinguish good from evil. Spiritual maturity is closely tied to discernment. You cannot have one without the other. There are no Christians who are mature but undiscerning.
The Bible makes it clear: God expects and demands that we pursue and exhibit spiritual discernment. Healthy Christians, those who are alive, growing and mature are necessarily those who seek to honor God by discerning between what is good and what is evil.
The Call
As we saw at the beginning of this chapter, King Solomon knew the importance of discernment. The early verses of Proverbs are a call for both wisdom and discernment.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)
We are to incline our hearts to discernment and to cry out for it. We should desire spiritual maturity, spiritual growth and spiritual life. We can only have these wonderful benefits if we have discernment.
Proverbs 2 is a father’s call for his son to embrace and treasure discernment. There are few things that are as important, as precious, as discernment. The Bible cries for you to seek after it so you can live, so you can grow and so you can mature in your faith. Will you answer the call?
Comments (6) »
1. nakedpastor
January 10, 2007
10:01 AM
don’t mean to throw a wrench in your argument, much of which i agree with, but haven’t we all found that the greatest discernment often comes from the most surprising sources, like children? i’ve come to the conclusion that much learning can make us mad, can blindfold us, can muck up our senses so that we can’t see authentically or clearly. our “maturity” and “wisdom” can filter true seeing. not to put down learning at all. i believe in it. but a new kind of learning that is more like unlearning. just a thought.
2. Tim Challies
January 10, 2007
11:22 AM
“don’t mean to throw a wrench in your argument”
Think nothing of it. I think, though, that to make your point here you’d have to show that I was wrong in interpreting the passage in Hebrews as I did. After all, it seems clear to me that maturity and discernment go hand-in-hand.
3. brian
January 10, 2007
11:40 AM
Today’s writing reminded me of my salvation experience. Before I was saved, I had an interest in the Bible, went to Church regularly, but didn’t know the Gospel. I would read the Bible and understand some of it intellectually. I would get comfort from the words and stories - something important was there - but there was no understanding.
When I was saved, (John 14:6), it was as if a light came on. The Bible was open to me and at every point demonstrated something of the nature of God seeking to restore the lost through His Son. It connected! It reinforced! It supported itself! It was consistent! There was prophecy and fulfillment! There was reason and purpose! Words I had read long ago now made sense. They stood by themselves, but they were also part of a greater mosaic of God’s plan - from Genesis to Revelation.
I developed a great hunger for the Word, sought out a new Church — one that just began a study in Romans that lasted for two years. I would take a pocket Bible with me to work and read it at lunch.
Since then, I have found that my peace and joy are in direct proportion to the time I spend in God’s Word and prayer. My awareness and experience of God is affected. One of my experiences, to nakedpastor’s point, is that I see God at work in many areas of my life — children being one of the biggest impacts — they helped me to understand the relationship of Father and Child - love, forgiveness, provision, protection - much more clearly. But I also see God at work in the news, in my relationships, in my workplace, in my Church.
This is why it is good to be around new believers IMO. They have this sense of wonder that comes from Godly discernment - for the first time. I hope I never lose that sense of wonder that discernment brings.
4. John K
January 10, 2007
11:44 AM
Quote:
“…much learning can make us mad…”
You have heard the expression, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Knowledge in itself is not a bad, but perhaps a little knowledge combined with immaturity, or worst of all, pride or arrogance is what can blind us. It is this “little” knowledge might convince the immature or the prideful that discernment in unnecessary.
Take Care
5. vynette
January 10, 2007
3:27 PM
“…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)”
The Old Testament states that YHVH had a controversy with the people because there was no truth, no goodness, no knowledge of God in the land (Micah 6:2, Hosea 4:1). If there was no knowledge of God in the land it was certainly not because of the prophets.
If there is no ‘knowledge’ now, it is certainly not the fault of the apostles. It is because of the trust reposed in doctrines and traditions rather than in the words of Jesus of Nazareth.
Humans are required to make choices based on the reasoning powers with which they have been endowed. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord…” (Isaiah 1:18)
Because “God is a spirit and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in TRUTH” (John 4:21-24), it is encumbent upon followers of Jesus to search out the truth of any matter.
The great paradox is that the Christian churches ostensibly preach Jesus of Nazareth while, at the same time, through their doctrine, they misrepresent him and actually further the viewpoint of those who crucified him.
The disinformation projected by church doctrine about ‘Jesus Christ’ destroys the central figure with far greater definition than the crucifixion itself accomplished. This principle pervades the whole doctrinal position of the Christian Churches - they have swallowed a camel and cast out a gnat.
If Jesus of Nazareth were to walk the earth today, he would be recognisable only by the values and principles he embodied. He would be unrecognisable in terms of the ‘trinity’ and ‘virgin birth’.
6. Jerry M
January 10, 2007
7:23 PM
and now from the gnostic corner …