Grow Up!

My latest major contemplative thought is the concept of "growing up". This was further pronounced by my mom's disparaging remarks regarding my Left 4 Dead marathon gameplay. (This will be the last post about L4D). In my frustration, I asked her if I should be spending my time trying to bed foreign women as that would seem more adult-like? She was not amused. Neither was God.

But, what I want to focus on is this: When is someone grown up?

What were the traditional markers? Being married? Owning a home? Kids? These are things that have been pushed back further and further in Western countries. Instead, we have this period of extended adolescence from graduation to high 20's and low 30's where young adults pursue hobbies, careers, loose men and women, etc. It is a time of "soul-searching" which typically involves unbridled hedonism. I do not think it is wise to base any idea off of tradition. It is merely a form of peer pressure.

So are we an adult at 18? or 21? Legally, yes. But, we have all met that special person whom it seems God has shortchanged in the "maturity" department. As well, there are some kids who are more composed than many adults! Furthermore, we still base our assumptions off of subjective criteria that someone somewhere developed!

Where else do we have to go, but the Bible? The first nine chapters of Proverbs is set out like a father teaching his son. Paul speaks to Timothy as a father and mentor in His letters. Some say that Jacob offers a poor example of instilling values upon his sons. Daniel offers an excellent example of a young man who was mature in his dealings, and rose up to become very useful to the various Babylonian kings he served.

BUT! Are we not looking at this with the wrong perspective?

"When will you grow up?" is language designed to "shame" the person into acting a certain way to the approval of the questioner.¹ Are we to modify our behaviour for the praise of men? Do we take value in what we own, who we're married to, and what we're capable of? Or is there something else...?

Our life should be lived for the approval of God. Our value should be derived from knowing that we are sons and daughters of God. And we should grow knowing that faith and maturity are intertwined. We are only "growing up" when we strive to know God.

^{1. I am speaking when it is most often deployed. I am sure there are situations with loved ones who question you for your own well being.}