• Maturity is not: AGE

• Maturity is not: APPEARANCE

• Maturity is not: ACHIEVEMENT or ACCOMPLISHMENT

• Maturity is not: ACADEMICS

5 MARKS OF MATURITY

• A MATURE PERSON IS POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE James 1:2-4 (NIV): Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
  
  James 1:12 (NIV): Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
   
• A MATURE PERSON IS SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE James 2:8 (NIV): If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
  James 2:1-6 (NIV): My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
  
  James 2:14-16 (NIV): What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? [15] Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
   
• MATURE PERSONS HAVE MASTERED THEIR MOUTHS James 3:2 (NIV): We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
  
  Ephes. 4:29 (NIV): Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
  
  James 1:26 (NIV): If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
   
• A MATURE PERSON IS A PEACEMAKER, NOT A TROUBLEMAKER James 4:1 (NIV): What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
   

1. selfishness

James 4:2-3 (NIV): You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

2. being judgmental

James 4:11-12 (NIV): Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?

• A MATURE PERSON IS PATIENT AND PRAYERFUL

James 5:7-11 (NLT): Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. [8] You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. [9] Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. For look! The great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door! [10] For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. [11] We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.

James 5:16b (NLT): The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.