There is a fine devotional book which has been assembled from the writings of Dr. J. I. Packer. In it he quotes a psychologist on the six marks of maturity. Americans love to take self-examinations, so here is one for you on what it means to be grown up, to be whole, balanced, sane and able to cope with life:
1. The first mark of maturity is the ability to deal constructively
with reality, to face facts, to not cover up reality or call it
something else, but to deal with it as it is. Mature people do
not kid themselves.
2. The second mark is, adapting quickly to change. We all experience
change, whether it be physical, at work, in the family, or
whatever. I am amazed at how much some of you have changed
through the years while I remain exactly the same! Immature
people resist change. It makes them nervous. But the mark of
maturity is to adapt to change because change is inevitable.
3. The third mark is freedom from the symptoms of tension and
anxiety. The worried look, the frown, the ulcers, the palpi-
tations of the heart — all come because you are upset, anxious
and worried. Maturing means you have begun to see that God is in
control of this world. He is working out purposes that you do
not always understand, but you accept it. He will take you
through the deep water, not drown you in it. Maturity means you
are learning to trust.
4. Fourth, it means to be satisfied more with giving than receiving.
Some of you have recently learned that the joy of Christmas is
not getting presents but giving them. To see the joy in someone
else’s face when they get something they either need or want.
That is a sign you are growing up. You are discovering the true
values of life.
5. The fifth mark is, to relate to others with consistency, help-
fulness and mutual satisfaction. Maturity is learning to get
along with other people, to be a help, not a hindrance, to
contribute to the solution and not to be always a part of the
problem.
6. Finally, maturity is sublimating and redirecting anger to
constructive ends. Maturity is the ability to use the adrenaline
that anger creates, not to lose your temper and add to the
problem, but to correct a situation or to contribute to changing
the nature of the difficulty.