You Become Harder to Provoke

We sometimes imagine maturity as knowing more Scripture, understanding deeper doctrines, or having many years of church experience. Those things have value, but James brings the matter much closer to home.

How easily can someone provoke you?

How quickly do you respond when criticized? How badly do you need the last word? How long do you carry an offense? What happens when somebody interrupts your plans, misunderstands your motives, or disagrees with your opinion?

Spiritual endurance gradually creates emotional steadiness.

This does not mean that mature Christians never become angry. It means that anger has less control over what they say and do. Experience with God teaches us that not every criticism requires a response, not every disagreement is a crisis, and not every offense needs to be carried around.

A mature Christian becomes increasingly difficult to knock off balance.