Maturity is More Than

"But it must be said that maturity is not merely something you do with your mind (although that is an important element of spiritual maturity). No, maturity is about how you live your life.  It is possible to be theologically astute and be very immature."

Paul Tripp

I am reading an advanced sample of Paul Tripp's forthcoming book entitled Dangerous Calling.  In it he makes this statement that I have come to contemplate frequently over the last few months as well as discuss with some friends.

Unfortunately, Christians have made the mark of maturity the number of Bible quiz questions that can be answered or being the small group resident Bible scholar.  Degrees hang on the wall like wallpaper, but the knowledge in our heads does not affect the work of our hands.

Maturity is about how we live.  It does not matter whether others, because of my degrees or my biblical knowledge, call me a mature Christian if what I know does not impact the way I live. 

 If I still get angry, if I still engage in habitual sin, if I still refuse to forgive, if I still let orphans go fatherless and widows go hungry, if I still fail to share the gospel, if I still neglect my marriage and my children, if I still gossip and slander, if I still live arrogantly, if I still harm others, then there is a lack of maturity in my life.  Yes, a lack of spiritual maturity regardless of what is in my head or what proceeds from my lips.

This seems to be the essence of James' words to believers who believed faith and maturity was something one could say they possessed without demonstrating faith and maturity in works.  To them, James says, that their faith is dead and likewise their spiritual maturity was infantile.  

This I pray today: Lord, may the knowledge of You lead me to a life lived for your glory.