MATURITY

Unless incapacitated, an adult who still wears diapers, feeds on baby-milk, and doesn’t think or take responsibility is simply immature—and is not ready for marriage, nor useful for any productive purpose. As in the physical realm, so in the spiritual. Leonard Wedel says: “A mature person does not take himself too seriously...keeps himself alert in mind...does not always view with alarm every adverse situation that arises...Is too big to be little...never feels too great to do little things, and is never too proud to do humble things...never accepts either success or failure in themselves as permanent...is one who is able to control his or her impulses...is not afraid to make mistakes...has faith in themselves which becomes stronger as it is fortified by their faith in God.” Age, education, and position are not necessarily evidence of maturity. Let’s grow up! Paul counsels: “Do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20; cf. Hebrews 5:14; 6:1; Galatians 5:22-23)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim