When it comes to maturity, much like everything else, culture attempts to hi-jack the definition and distort the standard. Today, I want to make an attempt to take hold of this moving target, but to do that, we have to lay some groundwork. So let’s take a look at God’s Word so we don’t get this wrong. 

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

In fact, one of the evidences of spiritual life is a hunger for spiritual food, the Word of God. We must not remain babes in Christ. But just as the baby has a great appetite, so we should have a similar desire for God’s Word. As we grow in the Lord, we include meat and bread in our spiritual diet (Matt. 4:4). - Warren W. Wiersbe,

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

“Baby Christians” who will not feed on the Word (1 Peter 2:2) and grow in the Lord are unstable. In this wicked world, Christians must take time to feed on the Word, pray, and exercise their spiritual muscles - Warren W. Wiersbe,

True maturity begins at salvation. The the age our paradox, we have to lose ourselves to find ourself. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” When the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, our life is radically transformed and we are born again. The thing that I hate to see the most though is when new believers STAY spiritual babies and don’t graduate to a fuller walk with God. 

When we live our life growing each and every day, we experience the fullness and fulfillment that our life was meant to have. When we choose to live our life by the standard of the world, we can chase everything that the world says is good and still not be fulfilled. Don’t hear me say that growing is easy, because growing pains are a very real thing. There are very real seasons where make the “right” choice isn’t the easy choice, but that is where the rubber meets the road, right? Putting off the temporary for the eternal. 

Signs of immaturity:

• Argumentative or easily angered
  • The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.  Psalm 103:8.

• Unforgiving
  • Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

• Lack of empathy and action for the marginalized
  • Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy. Proverbs 31:9.
• Selfishness

Hebrews 5:13-14 talks about what it looks like when we begin making the transition from milk to meat. It carries the idea that as we grow in our personal walk with God, we hunger more for the things of God. As we read and seek more of the things of God, we become more of the very person that He made us to be. Since we are on a roll with lists, let’s stick with it. 

Personal Maturity Discipleship Metrics:

Job/School

Immature: 

• Immaturity might look like not working at all, or not working the job that God has called you to. If you are in school, it looks like not caring about your grades and not giving it all you have

Mature:

• Maturity in the area of school or a job looks like starting on your knees and praying to God for wisdom and discernment for choices. A mature Chirstian is also a hard worker in all areas of life.

• Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28–29.

Time

Immature: 

• Being immature in the area of time means spending most of it on yourself. A good indicator that we are immature in the area of time is if most of our plans revolve around being “me-centric”.

Mature:

• Maturity in the area of time means that we budget MOST of it for the Kingdom. This doesn’t mean completely depleting yourself every single moment of every single day for the sake of martyrdom. Instead, it looks like adequately spending time with the Lord to fill your cup, THEN doing the things that God has called you to do. (You might come to notice that managing your time the way that God intended is a great way to spend your time)

•  Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time,, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15–16.

Budgeting

Immature: 

• Immaturity means a couple things in the area of budgeting. First, you might not do it. Secondly, you don’t stick to it or manage your money well. Lastly, you might not prioritize the most important things. (Being immature with money also means that you might be obsessed with it)

Mature:

• Maturity by way of budgeting looks like not only making a budget, but also sticking to it. In said budget, what are the most important things to consider? Tithing, bills, savings, personal ministry, retirement. Christians that manage money instead of letting their money manage them are more freed up to operate in their callings instead of constantly stressing about the state of their condition.

• “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Rest

Immature:

• No consistent pattern of rest, not knowing how to rest “well”, “resting” in ways that don’t actually recharge you, “resting” from God instead of with Him. 

Mature:

• Have a consistent time of rest on your schedule. Know how you personally rejuvenate. Spend time doing things that bring you life and that doesn’t drain you more. Finally, spend time with the Lord on your days of rest.
• In Luke 4, after a long and demanding period of time, Jesus withdrew to fast and pray for 40 days. At the end of that time, the devil came to tempt Him, but he prevailed. 

How to be discipled in the area of personal maturity:

1. Desire a deep relationship with the person discipling you. This whole discipleship thing isn’t going to be enjoyable or profitable for anyone if there is not a relationship between disciple-maker and disciple. The relationship will feel uncomfortable and strict, which does not make for fertile soil for God’s Word. 
2. We must walk in humility. The area of personal maturity in an area that flows directly out of who we are, which means that it is deeply rooted in who we are. We must remember that when truth is shared that challenges and convicts us, the intent is not to harm us, but help us. 
   • Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, Colossians 3:12–13.
3. We need to be teachable. Along with humility comes teachability. If we come into this discipleship relationship just to check a box, then we are going to be walking into this thing with a hardened heart. 

How to disciple someone in the area of personal maturity:

1. Be a person of integrity. I believe that because of the nature of this particular subject, the person that is discipling somebody else must be a person who is who they say that they are. In other words, make sure that your confessions line up with your confessions.
   • Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight. Proverbs 12:22.
2. Make sure Jesus is the bar, not you. When talking to someone about personal maturity, shooting for a constant standard is incredibly important. Make sure that standard is Jesus. The best way to do that is by making sure you aren’t using the book of opinions to disciple someone, use scripture! 
3. Practice grace over and over. When I think about walking alongside someone in the area of maturity, grace is a nonnegotiable. People are going to stumble in some areas and excel in others, but it is all part of the process. Don’t get frustrated or defeated. Take a break, access the situation, learn from it, and jump back in!