As Jesus approached the end of his earthly life, he lovingly looked at the apostles. To his closest earthly companions he said, “I have…more to say to you, more than you can now bear,” John 16:12. Jesus desired to share much more truth with his followers but realized their immaturity would not allow them to comprehend the meaning of his words. You see, Jesus accepted people’s spiritual immaturity. He never demanded that people shed human immaturity and instantaneously attain his maturity level. The Gospel of Mark 4:33 points out, “Jesus spoke the Word to them, as much as they could understand.”
People only mature at the rate God planned. Impatience with them actually amounts to impatience with God, the One in charge of maturing them.
We should learn from Jesus’ example.
When we try forcing people to mature, they rebel. After all, we are asking the impossible. Recognize that none of us humans can mature more quickly than God allows. Don’t feel compelled to demand that others be as mature as you.
What can we do to help people grow? The people I’m speaking of may be your own children or your unsaved spouse or a fellow Christian who doesn’t share your beliefs.
“Love is patient,” 1 Corinthians 13:4. Patience waits on both people and the God who carries us along to maturity.
“Love is kind,” 1 Corinthians 13:4. When tempted to use anger as a tool for motivating others to mature, remember James 1:20. “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
Trust God. God’s schedule seldom fits into our human opinion of right timing. “It is not for you to know the times the Father has set by his own authority,” Acts 1:7.
Don’t concentrate on human resistance to God’s work. God conquers human resistance in his own way, and at just the right time.
Place your eyes on the Lord and remove your attention from people. “The Lord works for those who wait for him.”
Be greatly encouraged,
Pastor James Fields
