Thoughts On (im)Maturity
People often chase after things that run away. Ever wondered why? Could it be that possessing the hard-to-get is not the ultimate goal, but the want to feel that one deserves it, to prove one's worthiness of holding or even just be associated with the object of one's desire.
There is a supposition of such a condition to immaturity. But then we would have to define what maturity is, wouldn't we?
I've been offered a suggestion that the continuum between maturity and immaturity is more of a societal definition that is hardly definite, obviously because it would then depend on the perception and culture of the respective societies. Who is in the unquestionable position to say what is maturity and what is not? At best, it is merely some subjective viewpoints (like trends and fashion) initiated and/or developed by people with desired outcome motivated by self-centredness. Sadly, this is so for many other pivotal life's issues, even more unfortunately, often diluted by lack of knowledge of individuals that seek to add their 2-cent's worth, if not by degeneration.
Perhaps it would be better to define maturity as perfection. To the believers, perfection means attaining the likeness of Christ in the lives of Christians. Jesus is perfect. Hence perhaps it would be wiser to measure one's maturity by the perfection of one's life according to the word of God, which often, is a paradox to the world's common and so-called established view.
And for once, a definition at the mark of it that is not going to waver by whims and fancies. Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Now, that's what I call definitive
We don't need to go round searching for it, maturity, that is. Just try love as God's word has defined, and obtain the fruit of the Spirit. I bet you'll find that if you could achieve even just the fullness of love's definition, you would be very near, if not hit the mark, of maturity.
Then, you'll never be in want. For anything that is not of these, is vanity - grasping for the wind.
The Greatest Gift (1 Corinthians 13)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
There is a supposition of such a condition to immaturity. But then we would have to define what maturity is, wouldn't we?
I've been offered a suggestion that the continuum between maturity and immaturity is more of a societal definition that is hardly definite, obviously because it would then depend on the perception and culture of the respective societies. Who is in the unquestionable position to say what is maturity and what is not? At best, it is merely some subjective viewpoints (like trends and fashion) initiated and/or developed by people with desired outcome motivated by self-centredness. Sadly, this is so for many other pivotal life's issues, even more unfortunately, often diluted by lack of knowledge of individuals that seek to add their 2-cent's worth, if not by degeneration.
Perhaps it would be better to define maturity as perfection. To the believers, perfection means attaining the likeness of Christ in the lives of Christians. Jesus is perfect. Hence perhaps it would be wiser to measure one's maturity by the perfection of one's life according to the word of God, which often, is a paradox to the world's common and so-called established view.
And for once, a definition at the mark of it that is not going to waver by whims and fancies. Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Now, that's what I call definitive
We don't need to go round searching for it, maturity, that is. Just try love as God's word has defined, and obtain the fruit of the Spirit. I bet you'll find that if you could achieve even just the fullness of love's definition, you would be very near, if not hit the mark, of maturity.
Then, you'll never be in want. For anything that is not of these, is vanity - grasping for the wind.
The Greatest Gift (1 Corinthians 13)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
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