Gò0dNews for Parents
Be An Adult
1
by Charles Finney
Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child, I spake as a
Spiritual growth is the development of essential
child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
principles of virtues like honesty, genuine love, forgiveness,
when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
kindness, and speaking the truth. Spiritual growth is
Today, it seems a lot of people we think of as adults
spending time with God, studying and reading the Bible,
are still children. Age does not determine adult status.
and praying to Him—telling Him of your questions,
When a person becomes an adult, it is through a process
worries, and concerns. Separation from God leads to a
of not only physical but emotional and spiritual growth
lack of love for your fellow man, childish behavior, lying
and understanding.
about their character, and unkind acts to destroy your
A child first crawls, then attempts to walk but falls. They will keep up this process until they take a first step, then walk. Soon the walk turns into a jog, then a run. Trial and error, or learning and recording, turns failure into success. The physical person develops from a baby of dependence to a child of independence to a person of strength and physical maturity: fully developed in stature, but lacking in emotional and spiritual maturity. Still a child. Emotional growth stems from the collective experiences, expressions, understanding, and regulation of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc. Children pout, whine, and complain. As one grows in emotional maturity, one does not let the heat of the mind be prone to anger but makes it
fellow humans, no matter their race, sex, age, or religious
stay in calmness and a state of composure. Proverbs 15:18:
affiliation. Still a child.
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to
Today’s adults seem to lack wisdom, justice, judgment,
anger appeaseth strife.” Being an emotionally mature adult
and equity. They strive for fake news, destructive lies, and
is when you are able to respond to situations and control
innuendos to damage the reputations of others. These are
your emotions when dealing with others. Proverbs 15:1-2:
the children who did not hear their fathers or forefathers.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir
Proverbs 1:8: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and
up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright:
forsake not the law of thy mother.” Proverbs 22:6: “Train up
but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” An adult
a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will
would not show a lack of sense, be inconsiderate, or conduct
not depart from it.”
foolish speech which was lacking in forethought or caution.
Put away childish things and misunderstandings.
Emotional maturity does not let the child rear its reactive
1 Corinthians 14:20: “Brethren, be not children in
head and pout, whine, or complain over how we were treated
understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in
or how things used to be. In doing so, we are still children.
understanding be men.” Love, forgive, and speak the truth.
20 // October 2020
Now you are an adult.
