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MORAL MATURITY

SCRIPTURE READINGS
GENESIS 3:8-15
2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-5:1
MARK 3:20-35

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Moral Maturity is the theme for our reflection. Morality concerns the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour. Moral maturity is having the ability to decipher between good and bad conduct or behaviour and possessing the inclination and discipline to always make discerning and acceptable decisions for the furtherance and good of society. For a holistic deliberation on the theme and Scripture readings, we shall consider the following points:
1. God is the source of morality and moral maturity.
2. God rewards us for our moral maturity and consistency.

Firstly, it is important to note that God is a moral being, hence He is the source of morality and moral maturity. He created us with a sense of morality and also established laws that will guide us and make us morally discerning. In other words, He created humanity with the knowledge of good and bad. We see God as the source of morality when “…the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Man was given the knowledge of what is good and bad, however, man had the will to obey or disobey God. We see the lack of moral maturity of Adam and Eve when they chose to do their will rather than the will of God. Due to their disobedience and lack of moral maturity, they incurred the wrath and punishment of God including the tempter. We are told in Genesis 3:8-15 that Adam and Eve were found guilty for the lack of moral maturity or judgment and their punishment thereof. In simple terms, the consequence of making bad moral decisions to please ourselves is suffering, for “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (James 4:17). God created us with good health but sexual immorality or having multiple sexual partners may bring us sexually transmitted diseases and consequently wreck our marriages. Corruption, stealing or embezzlement may bring us shame and imprisonment. Making immoral decisions will lead to either temporary or eternal suffering and agony. Again, Our lack of moral maturity or our ungodly decisions may even affect third parties such as our spouses, children or the name and reputation of our family.

Conversely, submitting our will to God’s commandments leads to moral maturity. When we resolve to obey God’s commandments or follow His will, we shall become morally mature and incorruptible. Consequently, a demonstration of our moral maturity by obeying God’s commandment or doing His will, will please Him, it is for this reason that Jesus said “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35) Our greatest duty on earth is to believe in Jesus and to live a morally worthy life that is pleasing to God for “Good judgment wins favour, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.” (Proverbs 13:15). Dear friend, our consistency in following the perfect examples of Jesus in living a morally matured life guarantees a peaceful and guilty-free life. Let us not compromise our morality or decline in our moral maturity because of the threats and hardships we are enduring on account of our Lord Jesus. Paul’s instruction to the Romans is instructive at this juncture when he wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. “(Romans 12:1-2)

Secondly, sustaining or maintaining a morally upright life or remaining morally mature in this morally corrupt world comes with a cost and a reward. We shall experience persecution, suffering or hardship for maintaining our moral maturity or obeying God’s commandment or will. However, regardless of the earthly ramifications or consequences of our moral maturity and decisions, God has an eternal reward for us. We are greatly assured by Paul in his encouraging words to the Church of Corinth when he wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ​¹ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:1). Let us not give up or be discouraged when we are being persecuted or attacked for demonstrating moral maturity at our offices, congregations and societies. Let us remain resolute in our moral maturity and judgement as we heed the admonishment of Peter and the other Apostles when they boldly said, “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:29) Obeying God leads to eternal reward for “….the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23). Again we are greatly admonished to remain steadfast in our moral maturity and good deeds, when Paul wrote “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:7-9). The choice is ours to mature morally through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, unlike Adam and Eve, we must desist from doing our will and more importantly, follow Jesus’ example to make moral choices that please God by saying “…not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, “Moral Maturity”. We have discovered that God is the source of morality and moral maturity and
God rewards us for our moral maturity and consistency. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to obey God’s Word and to always do His will even as we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.