Marks Of Maturity

Measuring our spiritual growth...

True Christianity forces us to face ourselves honestly. Christian maturity comes gradually as the following 'heart issues' are resolved. Below are several measuring rods by which we may gauge spiritual growth.

MEASURING RODS

MATURITY IS MEASURED BY THE FOLLOWING:

1. By how well we get along with others (Jn.17:21). This encompasses all of the following:

2. By how much contentment we have learned (Philippians 4:11-12, I Timothy 6:6).

3. By how well we rule our spirit and control our emotions—love or hate (Proverbs 16:32).

4. By how much we have dealt with pride and all other tormenting conflicts (Romans 12:3).

5. By how much patience we possess—rashness and criticism subdued (Prov.18:13, Isaiah 32:4).

6. By how steadfast we are—not up and down, but constant 'at all seasons' (Acts 20:18).

7. By how well we control our tongue. Most sins are committed with the tongue (James 3:2).

8. By how holy we are. Great ministry without character is of little worth (Matthew 7:20-23).

9. By how much of a servant's spirit we have. Humility is the mark of greatness (Mark 10:43-45).

10. By our attitudes toward authority. Bad attitudes reveal defiance toward the Lord (Ezekiel 3:7).

11. By the mastery of our thought life. Every battle is won or lost in our mind (1 Peter 1:13).

12. By discreetly managing finances. Money involves conscience and character (Luke 16:10,11).

13. By how much we have stopped saying, 'It's not fair' (Genesis 45:5-8, 50:20).

14. By our gratitude. Thankfulness is the key to victory, health (Eph. 5:20, I Thessalonians 5:18).

15. By realizing how much we do not know. The immature have all the answers (I Corinthians 8:2).

16. By our ability to handle rejection—having understanding and forgiveness (Acts 5:41).

17. By our responses to delays—a proof of how far down our roots go (Psalm 40:1-2, Isaiah 64:4).

18. By how well we handle personal failure, or looking like one (I Samuel 30:6, Isaiah 49:4).

19. By how well we cope with the loss of something (Job 1:21).

20. By how well we handle hostility sent our way (Romans 12:17-21).

21. By how well we manage success! Do we continue to depend on God? (Deuteronomy 8:11-14).

22. By how much wisdom we accumulate. Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7, Luke 2:52).

23. By how much love we possess. Love is totally unselfish, the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).

24. By how responsible and reliable we are, and by how much we fear the Lord (Nehemiah 7:2).

25. By how well we manage our time. Wasting time is wasting life (Psalm 90:12, Ephesians 5:15-17).

26. By our attitude toward fallen brethren—cleansed of an 'I told you so' attitude (Galatians 6:1).

27. By how well we know ourselves, even as God knows us (1 Corinthians 13:12), and by how much hypocrisy has been purged from our hearts (Matthew 7:1-5). Hypocrisy is self-blindness.

28. By how much of the fruit of the Spirit we possess (a summary of all the above).

Yrs lovingly,

Adele Josephine Tan

'Growth, strength, and maturity can all be measured by this—'By their fruits ye shall know them' (Matthew 7:20, Galatians 5:22-23). All nine fruits of the Spirit reveal the nature of God. Thus, when all of these fruits are abounding within us, we will be very much like Him. This is our calling and our goal.' (Rom. 8:29, 1 Jn. 3:2).