Be of sound judgment (4993) (sophroneo from sozo = to save {from sos = sound} + phren = mind, which would then literally describe a "saved mind"!) (Click studies on the related words sophron and sophronismos) means literally to be of sound mind. The idea is to to keep one’s mind safe and sound or to be in one's right mind. To think of one's self soberly. To put a moderate estimate on one's self. To curb one's passions. It means to be able to reason and think properly and in a sane manner. It means to have understanding about practical matters and thus be able to act sensibly. Peter uses the aorist imperative (command) calling for his readers to do this now, even with a sense of urgency in light of the dawning of the new day. Wuest commenting on sophroneo in Mk 5:15 writes that it means... to be of sound mind, to exercise self-control, to curb one’s passions. This last meaning was in classical Greek, as it is in New Testament Greek, the predominating usage of the word. Trench speaks of the word as habitual self-government with its constant rein on all the passions and desires. Not only is sanity returned to the demoniac, but self-control (in Mk 5:15). A wild man became the docile, quiet, self-possessed individual whom the people were viewing with a critical eye. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Sophroneo is used 6 times... Mark 5:15 And they came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. Luke 8:35 And the people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; (sophroneo = sane) and they became frightened. Romans 12:3-note For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Comment: The "sane" believer is to avoid excess so that he can see things clearly, and that clarity of thought should lead to an orderly, disciplined life. Such a man or woman knows how to order their priorities. A T Robertson says "Self-conceit is here treated as a species of insanity" 2Co 5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. Titus 2:6-note Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 1Pe 4:7-note The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. This description of the man, in contrast with his previous behavior, suggests that any person in his or her "right mind" will also be fully clothed and, as it were, sitting at the feet of Jesus, a good place to maintain a sane outlook! John MacArthur comments on sophroneo in this verse in Romans writing that... To think of ourselves with sound judgment leads us to recognize that, in ourselves, we are nothing at all, but that, in Christ, we can be used to the glory of God through the gift of the Spirit bestowed on us. We must realize that from ourselves, from our fleshly humanness, nothing eternal can be produced, but that in the power of the Spirit we can be used to build the kingdom and honor the King. (MacArthur, J: Romans 9-16. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos) William Barclay has a note on the related words sophron and sophrosune which helps us understand the meaning of the verb sophroneo: The corresponding noun is sophrosune, and the Greeks wrote and thought much about it. It is the opposite of intemperance and lack of self-control. Plato defined it as “the mastery of pleasure and desire.” Aristotle defined it as “that power by which the pleasures of the body are used as law commands.” Philo defined it as “a certain limiting and ordering of the desires, which eliminates those which are external and excessive, and which adorns those which are necessary with timeless and moderation.” Pythagoras said that it was “the foundation on which the soul rests.” Lamblichus said that “it is the safeguard of the most excellent habits in life.” Euripides said that it was “the fairest gift of God.” Jeremy Taylor called it “reason’s girdle and passion’s bridle.” Trench describes sophrosune as “the condition of entire command over the passions and desires, so that they receive no further allowance than that which law and right reason admit and approve.” Gilbert Murray wrote of sophron: “There is a way of thinking which destroys and a way which saves. The man or woman who is sophron walks among the beauties and perils of the world, feeling love, joy, anger, and the rest; and through all he has that in his mind which saves. Whom does it save? Not him only, but, as we should say, the whole situation. It saves the imminent evil from coming to be.” E. F. Brown quotes in illustration of sophrosune a prayer of Thomas Aquiwhich asks for “a quieting of all our impulses, fleshly and spiritual.” The man who is sophron has every part of his nature under perfect control, which is to say that the man who is sophron is the man in whose heart Christ reigns supreme." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) Unless we are sober in mind (not drunk on the sensual intoxicants of this present world system) true vigilance or watchfulness is impossible. Anything we do that is purely temporal (including that believers do in the power of their flesh rather than the power of the Spirit) is doomed to extinction, but all good deeds in the power of the Spirit will yield eternal treasure. Be sensible! If you are regenerate, to ignore this basic law of sowing and reaping is tragic. John Piper warns that... The end is near indeed. If anyone dallies with sin and the world, thinking, "I have lots of time," he plays the fool. The Judge is at the door. And the time remaining should be spent in earnest prayer that we not be made drunk and hard by the cares and pleasures of this world. 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