What is Maturity?

What is maturity? It is difficult to define but I found a really interesting book that defined it in some beautiful ways. all quotes below are from the book, "Understanding People: Deep Longings for Relationship" by Lawrence J Crabb, Jr.
The author talks about how mature people are sometimes defined by their knowledge when we should really be defining them by different standards. "But often those who have the trappings of maturity don't seem to draw us to the Lord. We may be impressed, challenged, and stimulated- but not drawn. Truly mature people are seductive: they entice us to pursue a God whom they know better than we. Maturity is less related to perfection than to a growing awareness of imperfection."

When we develop maturity we are developing serenity in an intimate confidence with God. It "slowly crowds out self-absorption, pettiness, worry, resentment, and distance and in their place fills the inner person with the strength of worthy purpose and the joy of satisfying relationship."

In order to be mature we must eliminate the feeling of self protection. Self protection is what is underlying every word we say and every action that we do. "A mature pattern of relating involves whatever actions represent the abandonment of self protection." This will look different for different people. One person may abandon self protection and come across as pushy because they say no to something. Another may come across as very gentle because they are normally defensively pushy.
Abandonment of self protection will allow us to love others more than ourselves. This will impact all of our relationships for the better. One can even motivate others to look for change within themselves. In the presence of a truly loving person, "our growth seems more appealing to us than required of us. Because the relationship is never at stake, we sense the freedom to enter fully into the enjoyment of relationship rather than to keep the relationship intact."
I can personally see this happening in each of the lives of the girls that I lead in Bible study. Watching myself grow, along side my coleader, has impacted each girl, who is watching us, in such profound ways. I am definitely more mature than I was two years ago and I give God the glory for it. I look forward to continuing this journey to maturity.


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