Without a doubt, probably the number one cause of problems in the world is immaturity. God's will for every person is that they grow. The writer of Hebrews 6:1 says, "Let us go on to maturity." God says grow up. That's why one of the purposes of our church is to help everybody grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, in every way and have balanced Christian living.

God says maturity is attitude. God wants you to grow up and have Christ like attitudes. How do you measure spiritual maturity? Not by comparing yourself to other people but by comparing yourself to the Word of God. In the Book of James we have a manual on maturity. The word for "mature" in Greek is translated "mature, complete, perfect." James uses this word five times in five chapters. The Book of James is a manual on how to be mature.

James gives us

Five Marks Of Maturity

A Mature Person is POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE

James 1:2-4, 12 How do you handle trials? The fire test of maturity is how do you react to problems? Do they blow you away? Do you get nervous, uptight, negative? So you grumble and gripe? How do you handle problems?

Christianity is a life, not a religion. Jesus said, "I've come that you might have life." Life means problems, and part of life means solving problems and facing them with the right attitude.

A Mature Person Is SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE

James 2:8 He doesn't just see his own needs, he sees other people's needs. He understands their hurts. He's not just interested in himself.

James gets very specific. In James 2:1-6 he says: Don't show favoritism, don't be a snob, don't look down on people, don't judge by appearance, don't insult people, don't exploit people. The second test of maturity is love: how do you treat other people?

A Mature Person HAS MASTERED HIS MOUTH

James 1:26, 3:2-8 The first thing a doctor will say when you go for a check up is “Stick out your tongue.” He uses your tongue to check your health. God does that spiritually, too. Self-control comes from tongue control.. Here’s one definition of gossip: Heating something you like about somebody you don’t. Gossip is mouth-to-mouth recitation.

Ephesians 4:29 If your words don’t build up, don’t say it. That’s a mark of maturity. A mature person mages his mouth. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a Christian—if you can’t master your mouth, you’ve missed the point. The test of maturity is to manage your mouth so that no corrupt communication, no negative talk comes out of your mouth.

A Mature Person Is A PEACEMAKER NOT A TROUBLEMAKER

James 4:1 James says there are inner quarrels and fights and they come from our own inner desires. The mark of a mature person is the lack of conflict in his own life. Why is there so much conflict in the world? James says there are two different reasons for conflict. James 4:3 The first cause of conflict is selfishness. James 4:11-12 The other source of conflict is judging others, being judgmental. God says selfishness and being judgmental causes conflict. The fourth characteristic of a mature person is whether that person is a peacemaker or a troublemaker. God says judgmental people are immature.

A Mature Person Is PATIENT AND PRAYERFUL