THE MARKS OF A MATURE

PERSON
Developing a Faith That Works Part
1
God's will for every person is personal growth and maturity. The
book of James defines what maturity means.
 WHAT MATURITY ISN'T:
• It's not: AGE
• It's not: APPEARANCE
• It's not: ACHIEVEMENT
• It's not: ACADEMICS
God says maturity is Attitude.
"Character is what you are in the
dark."
D.L Moody

Recognition is what people say about

you, character is
what God says about you. God
5 MARKS OF
MATURITY
 I. A MATURE PERSON IS POSITIVE UNDER
PRESSURE
"Consider
""Blesseditispure joy, whenever
the man who perseveresyou face trials
under of
trial,
many kinds,
because whenbecause
he hasyou know
stood thethe testing
test, he willof
your
receive thefaith develops
crown perseverance
of life that and
God has promised
perseverance mustwho
to those finishlove
its work
Him."so that you
may be matureJames and complete
1:12 not lacking
anything.“
James 1:2-4
II. A MATURE PERSON IS SENSITIVE TO
PEOPLE!

"If you really keep the

royal law found in
Scripture, `Love your
neighbor as yourself'
you are doing right."
James 2:8
 III. A MATURE PERSON HAS MASTERED HIS
MOUTH

"We
"Do all
notstumble
let any in many
negative
"If anyone considers
ways.
talk comeIf anyone
out
himself religious and of is
your
yet
never
mouth at fault
but in
only
does not keep a tight what
whatrein
is
hehelpful
says, he is a perfect
on his tongue, heup
for building
man, ableaccording
to keep his
deceives himself andtohis
others
wholetheirbodyneeds
in check."
...“
religion is worthless."
James
Eph. 3:2
James4:29 1:26
IV. A MATURE PERSON IS A PEACEMAKER NOT
A TROUBLEMAKER

""What causes fights and quarrels among

you? Don't they come from your desires
that battle within you?"
James 4:1
• 2 Sources of Conflict:
– (vs. 2-3) SELFISHNESS
– (vs. 11-12) JUDGING OTHERS
 SOURCE OF CONFLICT
• SELFISHNESS
– James 4:3 "When you ask you do not receive. But
you ask with the wrong motives that you may
spend what you get on your pleasures.”

– Anytime I my wants and desires become #1

priority then there will surely be conflict.
• PRIDE IS THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR SELFISHNESS
– Proverbs 13:10 "Only by pride comes contention."
 SOURCE OF CONFLICT
• JUDGING OTHERS
– JAMES 4:11-12 "Brothers, do not slander one
another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or
judges him speaks against the law and judges it...
There is only one lawgiver and judge, one who is
able
 Why should I not judge?
• I'm not God.
– When you judge somebody it's playing
God. There is only one judge, only one
lawgiver -- God.
• Only God has all the facts.
– you don't and neither do I. When I judge
you, I don't have all the facts.
• I don't know the motives
– and you don't either. You can't tell what's
in somebody's heart. You don't know. Only
God does.
 V. A MATURE PERSON IS PATIENT AND
PRAYERFUL

"Be"The
patient then, brothers,
prayer of a
until the Lord's coming ...
righteous man is
As you know, we consider
powerful
blessed thoseand
who
effective."
persevere."
James 5:7,
James 5:16b 11
 How do you rate your maturity?
1. How do you handle problems?
2. Are you sensitive to other people?
3. Can you manage your mouth?
4. Are you a troublemaker or are you a
peacemaker?
5. How long can you wait for an answer to
prayer without giving up?
THE MARKS OF A MATURE
PERSON
Developing a Faith That Works Part
1