The need for mature Christians today is as great as it has ever been among the people of God. Mature Christians do not fight and devour one another, as is the practice of so many people today in religious association. There is a great need today for godly elders, preachers, Bible class teachers, and Christians in general in every congregation in our vast brotherhood.
To put it another way, the church today needs men and women who are maturing into dedicated Christians.
In 1 Corinthians 16:13 Paul says, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” Paul is encouraging the Christians at Corinth to manliness (i.e., maturity) in this text.
BUT, maturity consists of many facets; a few of them follow:
1. Maturity is the ability to control anger. We must learn to deal with the problem of anger if we have a problem with it. “We must not let the sun go down on our anger” as the old adage says. We must settle our problem of anger with our friends; family, etc. so that we can begin the next day free of anger. We must not allow our anger to abide, for to allow anger to abide in us will allow us time to devise sinful conclusions. We must know how to control this problem that is common to most people. … Resolve the problems that anger create “quickly.”
2. Maturity exhibits itself in patience. Patience is the willingness to pass up temporary pleasure or conquest in favor of the long-term gain.
3. Maturity is perseverance. The ability to sweat out a project in spite of opposition. The mature Christian will hold on until the task in completed.
4. Maturity is the ability to Face unpleasant, difficult, frustration, discomfort, and even defeat, without collapse.
5. Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say “I was wrong,” and when right, the mature Christian will not say, “I told you so.”
6. Maturity is the ability to make the right decision and stand on it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and projects, and then complete none of them. “What a wasted life, such is!”
7. Maturity is dependability. The mature Christian can be counted on to keep his promises and commitments, to keep his word, and to always stand on and defend the “TRUTH.”
CONSIDER THIS: The mature Christian will always come through in a crisis (i.e., the dependable). The immature are apt in the alibi department. They are the confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broke, dreams, unfinished projects, and good intentions that somehow never seem to materialize.
8. Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which cannot be changed or altered.
2 John 9-11, Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. NIV
Revelation 22:17-19, I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. NIV
Ephesians 4:1-3, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
9. Maturity is gained through self-exercise.
2 Peter 3:18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
ALWAYS INSECURE: In our society today there are many bad people. We know that to be true from reading the Newspaper, listening to the radio, watching TV, and surfing on the web. These bad people are a constant source of discouragement to the people that have a desire to live an ethical, moral, and upright life with those around them. The crime rate that has been recently revealed shows violent crime figures down some but this has not created a sense of security in anyone that I have talked to. It seems that in our world there is no peace of mind. But let me assure you of this fact, “there is peace of mind available to all who really want it. There is available to everyone a relationship that encourages joy, happiness, and well being even while living in the world of today.
CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO OUR INSECURITIES! Although our problems are so unsettling as we live in this world, if we are Christian’s we have a sense of well-being that the unsaved do not have. As we understand the teaching of Christ we see that our hope for heaven is a secure hope so long as we maintain out faithfulness.
Matt 11:28-30 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”