There is a point to our discerning, you know. And it’s not necessarily what you think. Yes, we’re trying to avoid being deceived. But not doing something isn’t a very good goal. We need to have an actual aim, something we’re striving toward. And the goal of discernment is maturity.
What About Being Right?
Surprise! Being right has never been the goal. Not God’s goal for us, anyway.
Discernment isn’t about being right. It’s about recognizing right, for sure. But when our ability to recognize what’s right shifts into a need to be right, we often get in trouble. Biblically speaking, God often spoke most harshly to the people who were so sure they were right they didn’t realize they couldn’t see Him anymore.
So being right can’t be the goal. Nowhere in the Bible does God say, “Until you have attained to having it all figured out” or “so that you can then be right in every way.” And even as we pursue a discerning life, we need to be on guard against the pride of that position.
Is Truth the Goal?
So what about truth, then? Isn’t discernment about knowing the truth? Is that the goal of discernment?
Again, surprisingly, no.
Discerning does mean sorting out truth from lies, yes. It’s about comparing a message, any message, to what the Bible says to determine where, if at all, lies have woven in with God’s Word.
But discernment is not about stockpiling truth. In a discerning life, the goal is not to hoard bits of truth, memorized Bible verses, or favorite passages. Our ultimate goal is not to get more truth.
Why? Because when we gather truth like a dragon’s hoard, we will, at some point, have to shift from collection to protection. We will begin to refuse to surrender any of our “wealth.” Eventually, we will stop being discerning as our hearts grow prideful and rigid.
When we gather truth like a dragon's hoard, we will, at some point, have to shift from collection to protection—and our hearts will grow prideful and rigid. Click To TweetThe Ultimate Goal
So what then, is the goal of discernment? Simply put, in every area of life, including discernment, God’s ultimate goal is our spiritual maturity.
And he tells us this fact repeatedly.
Ephesians 3:17–19 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 4:12–13 …so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Colossians 1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The Goal of Discernment is Maturity
The ability to discern is not valuable if it leads us to look more at ourselves. It is only valuable if it leads us to look more like Jesus.
Its purpose is, ultimately, to direct our gaze to Jesus. To protect us from being led away from Jesus. And to ensure we can recognize the Jesus of the Bible in a world full of counterfeits.
When used poorly, discernment will actually prevent us from moving forward in our spiritual walk. But when we live a discerning life well, it is a powerful tool that God will use to ensure we are becoming more like Christ every day.
