Mature Not Perfect. Is There a Difference?
January 17, 2017
God's Love, Maturity, Relationship BuildingThere are several verses in Scripture that appear to encourage us to be perfect. The most obvious one is:
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
When we consider that God alone has no beginning or ending and that He alone is always able to be present everywhere, we see this verse is not saying that we are to be as God’s essence. We are constantly growing, maturing, and changing (as we should) while God remains the same, so we cannot become wholly perfect like God. Consequently, the above verse must speak of something else.
Thankfully, God intends us to be mature, not perfect. And, He is always willing to assist our growth process. So, let’s dig deeper and better understand the difference between mature and perfect.
The first recorded statement God made about mankind proclaimed that we are intended to be made into the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). We must ask, what is this image and likeness we are designed to be? It obviously has nothing to do with a physical appearance, an ability to stand upright, or a communicative ability. All humans and many animals are endowed with such abilities.
The image and likeness of God really speaks of the heart character, attitude, and personality
we are intended to reflect and resemble.
This image and likeness we are created to experience does not relate to our ability to reason, discern, and learn by experience. Even in fellowship with God, we do not always make the right choices.
Adam and Eve are a perfect example. While residing in the Garden of Eden, perfectly created and given by God to supply all their needs; our first parents made a choice to ignore God’s guidance. Thus, their close fellowship with the Father ceased (Genesis 2:16-17). Consequently, their ability to clearly hear and respond to God’s insightful lead was compromised.
Completing Levels of Maturity.
So, in what form or fashion are we to be as our heavenly Father? Clarity comes when we realize the word “perfect” is translated inappropriately from the Greek word teleios. In the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, the scholar Spiros Zodhiates defines the Greek teleios as:
Adult, full-grown, of full age as opposed to little children. God’s perfection is absolute; man’s is relative reaching the goal set for him by God with each individual different according to one’s God-given ability…Teleios is not to be confused with anamartetos, without sin or sinless.
In other words, to be perfect (teleios) really speaks of us reaching a goal, completing a process, and finishing a cycle. It refers to the process of completing levels of maturity. There is an indication that the finishing of teleios is preparatory to entering other stages or processes, like seeds maturing into plants that continue to grow and children mature into adults who continue to age and mature. Life continues and we face a variety of trying situations, never as perfect beings, but as more mature children of God.
The NASB version translates teleios as “mature” four times and “complete” two times. The context of those verses confirms the word is connected with levels of maturity rather than errorless perfection. (See 1 Corinthians 14:20, Hebrews 5:14, Ephesians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 2:6, Colossians 1:28, Matthew 19:21.)
The following instance is one of 13 times the NASB translates teleios as “perfect.” Notice how the text verifies that the word actually speaks of a level of maturity:
But when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things (1 Corinthians 13:10-11).
Why is this important? Perfect and mature refer to different ideas. Humans are unable, at least in this life, to be perfectly errorless. We can however, enter levels of maturity. Obviously we want to be on our best behavior, and yet, even our best discerning behavior can miss the mark.
Loving (Even Our Enemies) as God Loves.
Take a moment and consider this instruction from Jesus. In context, it speaks of loving our enemies as God loves them.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous…Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44-48).
We want to come to a level of maturity so we can love as our heavenly Father loves. Yes, some of our brothers are close and some are distant, while some are really out there. Nevertheless, we are all God’s offspring even if we do not respond to His love as children of God. We are family.
We have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers (1 Timothy 4:10).
We are all intended to partake of His guiding presence and mature as children of God. Rather than focusing on trying to be perfect (impossible in this life), let’s view ourselves and one another as God sees us – His growing children. In relationship with Him, let’s seek and receive His insightful lead and guidance. Then, under His Fatherly care we are able to grow and mature into various degrees of His image and likeness.
From Created To Relate by Keith Carroll, Relational Gospel Founder
Resources to help
Over the years of my personal life-changing journey I’ve compiled countless insights about walking in the Ways of God. With the help of many others on the Relational Gospel Team, I’ve created resources that are freely shared here on our website.
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