Finally Mature

Ephesians 4:14-16 (New Living Translation)

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1. When we are no longer chasing after new fad teachings! The older I get the better the unvarnished word of God sounds, the more I can see the wisdom in the word, the more I understand that these are not just ancient teachings designed to tie us down, but practical rules for living a full life. Chasing after the latest and greatest thing is a symptom of youth. Falling back on tried and true truth is a symptom of maturity. 
2. When we no longer are tricked by men. Every day we hear about some scheme that has cost plenty of folks plenty of money. I love to “kid” my grandchildren. I like to watch their faces as they are not exactly sure if what I have said is the truth or a “kid.” I particularly enjoy it when they call me on something with a sure, “Paw Paw, that’s not true.” When we’ve followed Jesus long enough and sure enough we are no longer taken off the trail by the “get it all quick” schemes of men. 
3. When being loving is  more important than being right.   I have always considered myself a pretty smart cookie. I used to get great pleasure in setting other people straight. I was too immature to understand their looks of hurt. The truth is just as important to a mature person as it is to a smarty pants. The mature person knows when and how to convey truth so that love isn’t damaged. Jesus told us it was by the way we love each other that we would be known and not by how much smarter we are. The mature person finally realizes that. Speaking the truth in love sometimes means not speaking at all. 
4. When our own thing turns out to be God’s thing.  A young person seems to always be in search of doing their own thing. “Their own thing” can’t be what their parents do and probably can’t be what any older person does. A mature Christian finally learns what God’s thing for them is and DOES IT. I know lots of older folks who know what they should be doing, but still aren’t doing it. That’s not maturity. That’s just sad.