Maturity

Today, I decided to be "mature" I have done this before, pretending to be a grown up, it didn't last. However, I do believe that inner maturity and outer maturity are different things.

Outer Maturity is wearing grown up clothes, walking instead of skipping, conversing instead of playing, watching a water fight instead of participating, generally acting like a grown up. There is definitely a place for all of these tendencies.

Inner Maturity is Character. Being able to forgive wrongs done, overlook accidental offenses, play when the time is right, begin water fights and enjoy laughing, being caring and listening, serving and looking after other people, being other people and God centered rather then self centered. Submitting to authority and practicing sacrificial love. Truly respecting others as image bearers of God.

Outer Maturity can be faked, Inner Maturity can't be. Outer Maturity is an image. Inner Maturity is real. This is not to say that people can't have both Inner and Outer Maturity, or neither for that matter, just that some people only have one kind and quick judgments lead astray.

An example of merely having Outer Maturity is the adult who looks grown up and behaves in a "grown up" way, but has no sense and no self control regarding life decisions and friendships. Look at teenagers who look like adults and binge every weekend. An example of Having only Inner Maturity is a person who stands out is a crowd, who does things regardless of what people think, who plays with children, who dances and sings in the living room, who skips or runs down the street, but who can be serious and loving and kind and full of care and empathy when it is fitting.

Nobody is ever fully mature I think, but God develops Inner Maturity, we develop Outer Maturity. I know which one I would rather have.