We often tell people to grow up, usually when we are frustrated with their lack of maturity. Mature people don’t demand that someone else deal with the consequences of their actions. Adults have grown up and expect others to grow up as well. Adults don’t just consume, they contribute too. A community needs grownups for leadership, guidance and care.
The Bible places a high value on maturity. How do you mature? It is intentional; “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7) The first attribute a maturing Christin can cultivate is virtue. Virtue is defined as; “conformity to a standard of right.” Faith requires that we walk the talk. This is our first exercise in evangelism – people see who we are by how we behave. If we are followers of Jesus, our behaviour should conform to the Gospel (Luke 6:46).
In order to follow the Biblical standards of right and wrong we have to know and study the Bible. This is a maturing process in itself; “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. . . . But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14) Adding to our knowledge of Scripture is a daily requirement for Christians to mature. Out of this knowledge comes self-control.
Self-control is by definition a personal decision. We have to decide – I will not do things contrary to Biblical principles like lying or adultery. It’s that simple and that difficult because some sins in our society are not frowned upon but do have spiritual consequences like lusting and over-eating/drinking. The Gospel (Matthew 5:21,22, 27,28,31,32,37,38-48) tells us we are bound to fail when it comes to sinning. When we fail we repent and continue with Jesus. We are steadfast in our direction despite obstacles, failures and difficulties. This is perseverance.
Jesus is our only hope and direction. We are not godly because we are so good, we are godly because God is good and Jesus is our righteousness; “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) With that level of maturity, we stop judging others and develop a compassion for our brothers and sisters who struggle as we do with sin. Kindness towards others grows out of this compassion. Finally empathy for one another as we go through life enables brotherly love to flourish.
The mature Christian loves, not conditionally or co-dependently. The mature Christian loves because he is loved even though he fails, struggles and fails again. We hang on to Jesus because without Him our failure would be final.
Love is our victory!
Steps Down The Road 