Immaturity

Marks of physical immaturity

Pride

2 Samuel 15:1–4 NASB95

Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.”

Rejection of wise counsel

Dt 21:18; 1 Ki 12:8

Tactlessness

1 Kings 12:13–14 NASB95

The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Lack of respect

2 Ki 2:23; Job 19:18

Weakness of character

2 Chronicles 13:7 NASB95

and worthless men gathered about him, scoundrels, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when he was young and timid and could not hold his own against them.

Foolishness

Proverbs 22:15 NASB95

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Lack of understanding

Dt 1:39; Pr 1:4; Jon 4:11; 1 Co 13:11

Lack of self-control

Titus 2:6 NASB95

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;

Disgrace

Proverbs 29:15 NASB95

The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

Waste

Luke 15:13 NASB95

“And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

Spiritual immaturity is to be avoided

1 Co 14:20; Heb 6:1

See also 2 Co 13:9; 2 Co 13:11 The word “perfection” may be understood in terms of maturity; Eph 4:13; Eph 4:15; Col 1:28; Col 4:12; Jas 1:4; 2 Pe 3:18

Marks of spiritual immaturity

Backsliding

Mt 13:20–21 Jesus Christ to his disciples.

See also Ga 4:8–9

An over-sensitive conscience

Romans 14:2 NASB95

One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

Lack of spiritual understanding

1 Corinthians 3:1–2 NASB95

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

See also Mt 11:16–19; Heb 5:11–14

Divisiveness

1 Corinthians 3:3 NASB95

for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Instability

Ephesians 4:14 NASB95

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

See also Jas 1:6–7

Pride

1 Ti 3:6 The church overseer must be a spiritually mature person.

See also 1 Pe 5:5

Remedies for immaturity

Confession of sin

Proverbs 28:13 NASB95

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

See also Je 3:13–22; Jas 5:16; 1 Jn 1:9

Discipline

Proverbs 3:11–12 NASB95

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

See also Ps 119:67–71; 1 Pe 4:1–2; Re 3:19

Prayer and meditation

Psalm 119:97–99 NASB95

O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

See also Ps 119:27; Jn 17:17–19; Ro 8:26; Heb 4:16; Jas 1:25