The Five Marks of Mature Person

成熟的人 Be Mature

谢淑宝牧师

Maturity

·         Does not depend on age.

·         Does not depend on the outward look.

·         Does not depend on achievements.

·         Does not depend on education.

Maturity is an attitude.

How do we measure maturity? We cannot compare maturity based on our own understanding. We need to turn to the Word of God in James. We will find the five marks of a mature person.

James is not one of the 12 disciples. He is the brother of Jesus and a leader of the churches in Jerusalem

Able To Face Pressure Positively

Jas 1:2-4  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  (3)  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  (4)  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Everyone faces problems. Only dead people have no problem. When we face problems we need to thank God because it means we are still alive. Pressure can bring anxiety, depression, fear, high blood pressure and even lower our immune system.

We must change the way we view pressure.

1.       Pressure may not be caused by a negative event.

If we have experienced a puncture tire and we know how to fix it, will we still be pressured by it? Is taking care of a baby a pressure? What about the first baby? When the baby cries, we worry. When the baby doesn’t cry, we worry. But when we have a few children, we are not pressure by a baby crying. Grandmothers don’t get pressured by their crying grandchildren.

2.       Pressure may not be a bad thing.

If there is no pressure or stress we will not be efficient. If we are given a project with a 3-year deadline, we don’t feel the pressure. But if it’s a 3-month project, we are pressed to work hard. Trees near the sea have strong roots because they are always blown by strong winds.

How do we handle pressure?

1.       A balanced diet and sufficient rest. The healthier the body is, the better we can face pressure. Don’t be tensed all the time.

2.       Control our emotions. We need to express our emotions via suitable channels. (Rom 12:19)

3.       Time Management. Give ourselves margins.

4.       Rely on God. Develop and maintain a good relationship with God.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Think about Others

Jas 2:8  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

We must be able to think about others if we want to love others.

Things happen. But how we view them matters. Sometimes we are harsher to our loved ones.

Able to Control Our Tongues

Jas 3:1-2  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.  (2)  For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Are our words edifying?

When go see a doctor, we are asked to show our tongue. Similarly, our lives are reflected in what we say.

God will call into account everything we say.

Be a Peacemaker

Jas 4:1  What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers because they are children of God.

Jas 4:3  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James listed two reasons why there are quarrels:

1.       Selfishness plus pride (cf Jas 4:3) – when we cannot get, we fight.

2.       Judgemental Attitude

Why we must not be judgemental:

1.       We are not God

2.       We don’t know everything. We think we have all the facts but we don’t.

3.       We don’t know the motive of others.

Patience

Jas 5:7-11  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  (8)  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  (9)  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.  (10)  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  (11)  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

We must have patience. Sometimes God doesn’t give us what we want in the time we want.

Fireproof – the husband in the movie is challenged by the father to do something to show his care and concern for his wife for 40 days.