Introduction. In part 1 we looked at typical attributes of children. We addressed some of the positive and negative attributes of children that we should embrace and avoid respectively as adults. Next, let’s apply the same assessment to typical “adult” attributes.
Positive Attributes of Adults. As noted at the beginning of our study, we need to spiritually grow up and “put away childish things.” (1 Cor. 13:11)
Knowledgeable. With education comes knowledge that adults need to function in a modern world. The same is true in a spiritual sense with learning and knowing spiritual truths from the scriptures.
Wise. With both knowledge and experience, adults gain deeper insight, sound judgment, and wisdom. Spiritually speaking, this is a very valuable attribute.
Selfless. We have seen inspirational acts of selflessness in homes, hospitals, athletic competitions, the battlefield, and elsewhere where people put the interests of others above their own needs to help, serve, and protect others. We see this attribute commended in the spiritual realm as well.
Self-controlled. With maturity, adults are expected to be far more self-controlled than emotionally immature and tantrum-throwing kids. The same is true of spiritually mature Christians.
Negative Attributes of Adults. Despite their knowledge, wisdom, and other positive attributes, adults can have negative attributes, sometimes becoming too smart or too sophisticated for their own good.
Lacking common sense. Perhaps you know of adults who are highly educated, but lack what we often call “common sense”, sound judgment in practical matters. We also see this in the spiritual world. For example, otherwise smart people will blindly follow their religious leaders despite Jesus’ warning:
Human wisdom. Sometimes adults get too “smart” for their own good. They allow their advanced education, worldly wisdom, and human reasoning to blind them to the simple truths of God’s word.
Pride. And too often with higher education and success comes an inflated ego and exaggerated sense of one’s own importance. This attribute is clearly condemned in the scriptures.
Composite View. Having examined positive and negative attributes of both children and adults, let’s pull them into a composite view. For each characteristic below, hopefully you can see there is often a balance point between being too child-like and being overly sophisticated. And yet, you may still detect a bias in some areas for the commendable attributes of children since “for of such is the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:14).
Curiosity, Knowledge, and Wisdom. Wanting to explore and learn more about God through the scriptures is very commendable. So is developing the wisdom to apply it properly in everyday situations. Doing the same for worldly activities leading to sin is not. So is developing an overly sophisticated “know it all” attitude. As noted above, “I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” (Rom. 16:19).
Trusting, Forgiving. Having a trusting attitude toward others is commendable, but needs to be balanced with wisdom and prudence per Matt. 10:16: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” The same could be said for having a forgiving attitude and never carrying a grudge, but knowing that forgiveness can only be fully extended to the repentant (Luke 17:3).
Emotions. Having a happy, cheerful, contented attitude is commendable as a faithful Christian. Even in times of distress, suffering, and persecution, we can still “count our blessings” and have the joy of salvation. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4) That said, it is also commendable to have our emotions under control (anger, envy, malice, etc. per Eph, 4:31; Col. 3:8) while at the same time not being intellectually cold and detached (1 Pet. 4:8).
Conclusion. As we’ve seen from the scriptures, God expects faithful, mature Christians to have a complex blend of positive attributes from both children and adults along with some degree of flexibility in responding to different situations:
Knowledgeable. With education comes knowledge that adults need to function in a modern world. The same is true in a spiritual sense with learning and knowing spiritual truths from the scriptures.
- And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)
- … but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 3:18)
- And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Col. 1:9)
- He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)
Wise. With both knowledge and experience, adults gain deeper insight, sound judgment, and wisdom. Spiritually speaking, this is a very valuable attribute.
- Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Prov. 4:7)
- I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness. (Eccl. 7:25)
- Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matt. 10:16)
- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (Eph 1:7-8)
Selfless. We have seen inspirational acts of selflessness in homes, hospitals, athletic competitions, the battlefield, and elsewhere where people put the interests of others above their own needs to help, serve, and protect others. We see this attribute commended in the spiritual realm as well.
- And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
- Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, … but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Phil. 2:3)
- “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44)
Self-controlled. With maturity, adults are expected to be far more self-controlled than emotionally immature and tantrum-throwing kids. The same is true of spiritually mature Christians.
- Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Cor. 9:25)
- But the fruit of the Spirit is … self-control (Gal. 5:22-23)
- … hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, (Titus 1:8)
- Add to your faith … self-control (2 Pet. 1:6)
Negative Attributes of Adults. Despite their knowledge, wisdom, and other positive attributes, adults can have negative attributes, sometimes becoming too smart or too sophisticated for their own good.
Lacking common sense. Perhaps you know of adults who are highly educated, but lack what we often call “common sense”, sound judgment in practical matters. We also see this in the spiritual world. For example, otherwise smart people will blindly follow their religious leaders despite Jesus’ warning:
- And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39)
- Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim. 3:7)
Human wisdom. Sometimes adults get too “smart” for their own good. They allow their advanced education, worldly wisdom, and human reasoning to blind them to the simple truths of God’s word.
- For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Rom. 1:18-23)
- For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1:18-24)
Pride. And too often with higher education and success comes an inflated ego and exaggerated sense of one’s own importance. This attribute is clearly condemned in the scriptures.
- Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov. 16:18)
- Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. (Prov. 27:1-2)
- Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)
- God resists the proud, … But gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet. 5:5)
Composite View. Having examined positive and negative attributes of both children and adults, let’s pull them into a composite view. For each characteristic below, hopefully you can see there is often a balance point between being too child-like and being overly sophisticated. And yet, you may still detect a bias in some areas for the commendable attributes of children since “for of such is the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:14).
Curiosity, Knowledge, and Wisdom. Wanting to explore and learn more about God through the scriptures is very commendable. So is developing the wisdom to apply it properly in everyday situations. Doing the same for worldly activities leading to sin is not. So is developing an overly sophisticated “know it all” attitude. As noted above, “I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” (Rom. 16:19).
Trusting, Forgiving. Having a trusting attitude toward others is commendable, but needs to be balanced with wisdom and prudence per Matt. 10:16: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” The same could be said for having a forgiving attitude and never carrying a grudge, but knowing that forgiveness can only be fully extended to the repentant (Luke 17:3).
Emotions. Having a happy, cheerful, contented attitude is commendable as a faithful Christian. Even in times of distress, suffering, and persecution, we can still “count our blessings” and have the joy of salvation. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4) That said, it is also commendable to have our emotions under control (anger, envy, malice, etc. per Eph, 4:31; Col. 3:8) while at the same time not being intellectually cold and detached (1 Pet. 4:8).
Conclusion. As we’ve seen from the scriptures, God expects faithful, mature Christians to have a complex blend of positive attributes from both children and adults along with some degree of flexibility in responding to different situations:
- Knowledgeable
- Wise
- Selfless
- Self-controlled
- Innocence
- Trusting
- Loving
- Curious
- Joyful