Is maturity something that is learned or earned?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

How does maturity grow?

  • It's a decision

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Experience

    Votes: 13 72.2%
  • Sense of responsibility

    Votes: 10 55.6%
  • I have no idea

    Votes: 1 5.6%

  • Total voters
    18

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#21
But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. -1 Peter 5:10

image.jpg
 

jogoldie

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2014
1,616
48
48
#22
Its both....you see..... gaining maturity doesn't happen through trials if we refuse to learn from them....
I know some really old and immature people.....with trials we do gain wisdom.....oh yes......
If we continue to follow and learn......the rate of maturity takes longer........if we are prideful and stubborn....
making excuses why we do dumb things.....or blame others .....it holds us back from being wiser....
So its up to us.....but sooner or later.....depending on how long you want to be beat up......you
Inevidably gain wisdom...
I must admit....I probably wouldn't have gone through half of my trials or adventures as I call them.....
If I was mature any sooner......peace .....jo
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#23
Its both....you see..... gaining maturity doesn't happen through trials if we refuse to learn from them....
I know some really old and immature people.....with trials we do gain wisdom.....oh yes......
If we continue to follow and learn......the rate of maturity takes longer........if we are prideful and stubborn....
making excuses why we do dumb things.....or blame others .....it holds us back from being wiser....
So its up to us.....but sooner or later.....depending on how long you want to be beat up......you
Inevidably gain wisdom...
I must admit....I probably wouldn't have gone through half of my trials or adventures as I call them.....
If I was mature any sooner......peace .....jo

True...if you refuse to learn from your mistakes...you tend to repeat them until you learn...
 
Dec 22, 2014
72
1
0
#24
Just some thinking out loud, but I know that age doesn't necessarily beget maturity. But then that raises the question, what does? Is it experience? A sense of responsibility? Realizing that you have a lot to do in this world and just putting your foot down to go do it no matter how much you fail?

It's confusing.
2 sides of the same coin:

#1. ON THE INSIDE:
Simply put, how much you can put up with and still don't loose control of yourself; that will define how mature you are. It's about your inner strength, resilience in the face of negative forces and resistance from excitement in the face of "positive" energies.

This can be a result of experience; i.e. the more you face the more you can handle, but it can also be a result of "virtual experience" (that is: through meditation.)

#2. ON THE OUTSIDE:
As for maturity in terms of responsibility ("Sense of Responsibility"); this is the other side of the coin. While the former was mostly about keeping the balance between your mind's requests and your heart's desires, this 2nd aspect is more about "What am I here for? On this planet. What's my life's purpose? The Story I wanna leave behind once I'm out?"

I personally recommend focusing on the INNER part, to let the energy build up from within and spill outside into a series of actions and ideas that the world will see and praise our Heavenly Father. I can speak to the INSIDE-OUT approach because that's what I'm most familiar with, but maybe the OUTSIDE-IN could also work.

Either way, in the end all the pieces of the puzzle come together; i.e. the 2 coins are set in place, and you know in your heart that you are a mature person, while at the same time we (your audience) can say Amen to that: "Yes, He is a real mature person." (Sometimes using words like "A man of God" instead of "mature", or "A good Christian", or "a true gentleman/lady", and so on)