Growing Up or Getting Old

Christ-followers are to spend their lives growing up to be like Jesus. Check out Ephesians 4:11-13, if you don’t think so. We are to become mature. For me, that means I need to grow into my gray hair. What does it mean to become mature? How can I tell if I am getting there? First, let’s tackle that by looking at what maturity isn’t.

Maturity Is Not:
 Age – adding years makes you old, not mature
 Appearance – as lovely as gray hair is, it does not mean that you are mature
 Achievement – neither making money, nor being famous make you mature. Watch any program on the E television network, and find out.
 Academics – maturity does not come automatically with diplomas and degrees

Maturity is determined by attitude and approach to life. Maturity has to do with how you are when other people aren’t paying attention, in the moments when, and in the places where, no one else sees. What others think of you is recognition. What God and you think of you is your character.
So how can I tell if I am growing into my gray hair? How do I measure my maturity? Our measuring stick is the Word of God, and the book of James gives us five ways to measure maturity.

Five Measures of Maturity (from the Book of James)
I. A mature person is positive under pressure
"Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
How do you handle problems? Do you persevere through them and learn from them?

II. A mature person is sensitive to others.
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, `Love your neighbor as yourself' you are doing right." James 2:8
Mature people are empathetic, they help those in need, and they are not snobs (see James 2:1-6).

III. A mature person has mastered his mouth.
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:2
The self-control that indicates maturity begins with tongue control (See James 3-11). Mature people praise and encourage others. They use their speech to build up, not tear down.

IV. A mature person is a peacemaker, not a troublemaker.
“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:11-12

Truly mature people refrain from gossip and judging. They know how destructive such talk can be and they refrain from it.

V. A mature person is patient and prayerful.
"Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming ... As you know, we consider blessed those who persevere." James 5:7, 11

Patience is a mark of maturity and is learned only by waiting. (Annoying, but true.) A mature Christian has learned that waiting is often part of the answer to his prayer.

So how are you doing with these marks of maturity? Are you maturing or just getting old? Are you ripening or rotting on the vine? It’s up to you, because you get to choose your attitude. Make the choice to grow up and become more and more like our big brother, Jesus.