Maturity Checklist

2 Corinthians 13:11

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace.
Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
(2 Corinthians 13:11)

Look at 1 Peter 3:8–12, and you’ll find a checklist for spiritual maturity. It helps us evaluate how we’re doing on this pilgrimage from earth to heaven.

To sum up, let all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and
humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing
instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a
blessing. For,
      “The one who desires life, to love and see good days
       Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
       He must turn away from evil and do good;
       He must seek peace and pursue it.
       For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
       And his ears attend to their prayer,
      But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.” (I Peter 3:8–12 NASB)

If I count correctly, there are no fewer than eight checkpoints that help us determine how we’re doing in our growth toward maturity. Let’s list them: unity, mutual interest, affectionate friendship, kind-heartedness, humility, forgiveness, and a controlled tongue.

Eight distinct notches to mark our Christian maturity. How do you measure up? We’re told to grow up. We’re told to press on to maturity. But growing up is never easy. We all have areas of trouble, setbacks, stumbling points along the way. (I don’t know of one item on this list that isn’t a struggle for me at various times in my own life.) So those are the things that we pray about.

Here’s a practical suggestion. Go over that list at the end of every month. Write it out and stick it where you will see it. Put it under a refrigerator magnet. Tape it to your mirror. Ask God for strength in these eight areas.

As children of God moving toward maturity, let’s be committed to harmony, to a spirit of unity. Let’s engage in a mutual interest in each other’s lives. Let’s develop friendships marked by affection, by “touchable love”—love that is genuine and demonstrative. Let’s be kindhearted and compassionate. Let’s exhibit humility of spirit and a mind that is concerned about others instead of ourselves. Finally, let’s forgive, control our tongues, and pursue purity and peace.