MATURITY

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to PERFECTION… – Hebrews 6:1a

The appropriate translation of the word “perfection” is MATURITY. Our Father-God desires that each of His children “go on to perfection” – progress toward that spiritual maturity of which Jesus is the perfect Example (Rom.8:29). Paul defined his assignment thus: to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col.1:28). He set the same goal before the Ephesians: “till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.4:13). The goal of the Christian life is to attain in ever-increasing degree the standard of spiritual maturity which was seen in perfection in Christ. John said in keen anticipation: “when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1Jh.3:2b). Christ set the standard in everything. In a word, spiritual maturity is Christlikeness!

J. Oswald Sanders highlights seven marks of spiritual maturity, against which we can classify ourselves by bringing our lives alongside the measuring tape. The spiritually mature Christian is characterized by the following:

Holiness above Happiness: the mature desires more to be holy than to be happy. Holiness is appealing only to the mature. A child is more interested in being happy than in being good. The child has to learn by painful experience that true happiness comes only by the way of goodness. Christ was gladder than any of His contemporaries because He “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity” (Heb.1:9).

Attitude of Giving above Receiving: A child prefers getting to giving. He has to be taught and to learn the joy of giving, that sharing is a much rewarding thing than mere selfish enjoyment. The only authentic saying of our Lord outside those recorded in the Gospels is this: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35b). His was a life of self-giving.

Serving above being served: the mature prefers serving rather than being served. A child enjoys having everyone shower attention on him. He hardly thinks of someone else unless he is prompted. Our Lord said: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk.10:45).

A Joyous personality: the gloomy and depressing person indicates that he or she is spiritually immature. His very pessimism is an evidence of inner conflicts. Christ was so joyous that He was able to bequeath His joy to His disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (Jh.15:11).

Fruitfulness above Barrenness: a fruitful life as opposed to a barren life. The mark of a mature tree is that it reproduces itself. Jesus said: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (Jh.12:24). Only the mature Christian is willing to fall into the ground and die, and only he is spiritually fruitful.

Acceptance rather than evasion of discipline: it is a childish reaction to shun divine disciplines. While not necessarily enjoying it, the mature Christian does not evade God’s chastening but adapts himself to it. Paul said: “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phl.4:11). He disciplined himself to accept divinely permitted chastening.

A Life of Love: love is the highest manifestation of spiritual maturity. We are only as mature as we are mature in love. A person who is fear-ridden is immature in love: “There is no fear in love…but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!...he who is afraid has not yet reached the full maturity of love – is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection” (1 Jh.4:18, AMP). Christ’s perfection was manifested in the fullness of His love.

How do you fare when you bring your life alongside these tests? How satisfactory is the progress you are making toward spiritual maturity?