Act Your Age

“I wish you would act your age!” Though that may have sounded like a request, mom would usually say it out of frustration at the silliness being exhibited by myself or my brother. The implication was that with a certain number of years of life should also come a measure of maturity. If only it were so!

That idea is assumed by our society in a number of ways. If you have lived for 16 years you must surely be responsible enough to drive a car on the public highways. You are expected to ‘act your age.’ The statistics, however, show that young drivers have many more accidents and tickets.

If you have lived for 18 years, then most people think you are prepared to make thoughtful and intelligent decisions about who should be elected to offices of power in our government. You are expected to ‘act your age.’ Yet the reality seems to be that 18 year olds either don’t take the time to vote, or make their choices from purely emotional or selfish feelings.

When you reach the ripe old age of 21, you are traditionally deemed ready to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages responsibly. You are expected to ‘act your age.’ But again, there appears to be a higher degree of alcohol abuse among young people coupled with a propensity to drive while intoxicated.

Society thinks that adults should be mature enough to handle credit cards, take out loans, balance a checkbook and pay bills on time – and again the evidence is to the contrary as personal debt and default continue to rise at alarming rates.

Maturity is clearly not a matter of age!

God’s Kingdom places a high value on the concept of maturity as the Holy Spirit works in the lives of Christians to develop the character traits displayed in the life of Jesus. The word used in scripture to describe maturity is perfect.  Not in the sense of never making any mistakes, but  in the sense of measurably growing into the character of Jesus.

The process God takes us through involves learning from past shortcomings, accepting His correction, and then actively living out what we learn.  His goal for us is that we can then take the next step forward in becoming like Him!

Christian maturity is graphically displayed in our lives as we stop making the same missteps all the time and exhibit new qualities of love, joy, peace, etc. That is accomplished as we spend time in God’s presence. As we learn from Him, we really do become new people as we continue following Jesus every day!

How exciting to be His people,

Pastor David Vanderpool

Image retrieved from:  http://careandgrowth.com/blog/personal/2015/03/31/how-mature-are-you-25-signs-of-maturity/