Philippians 3:1-21

Mature Thinking

When I was a kid I used to not think very much of the idea of becoming “mature”. I remember thinking that I would never stop watching Saturday morning cartoons. I would always be that kid who would eat the middle of the Oreo first and throw the cookie on the outside away. I was also sure that I would never like girls. Well, one out of three isn’t too bad.

In all honesty, I equated maturity with losing the ability to smile if not laugh. Mature people certainly did not know how to have fun, they lacked a sense of wonder and inquiry. Mature people apparently had it figured all out so they really didn’t need to hear from anyone else. They were mostly just placed in the world to make others unhappy. That’s how I saw it anyway.

Now that I am older (and no longer watch Saturday morning cartoons and discovered that girls aren’t so bad) I have observed that the problem was not maturity. I have known several friends who decided not to become mature and honestly they are not a pretty sight; quite sad actually. An immature person can be just as miserable as a mature one. One can be quite mature and still maintain a child-like wonder and perfectly splendid enjoyment of life. In fact, this is exactly what God intends.

How do mature people think? Paul makes it pretty clear here at least in one very important area. They forget what is in the past and press on toward what is in the future. This doesn’t mean that they forget the lessons or the joys of the past. It does mean that they are not trapped by the past. They do not hold on to past hurts or failures allowing them to cripple them. They have fond memories but are not forever trying to recreate them. This also does not mean that they so live in the future that they fail to enjoy the present and see the possibilities of the now. It does mean that they realize they have a future. There is more to do, more fruit to bear, and more glory waits up ahead for our God is infinite. 

This is how mature people think. Don’t think that just because you disapprove of a lot of stuff that you are mature.