Jeremiah 17:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.

I begin with this passage to demonstrate how a man who has spiritual fruit reacts to adverse conditions.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These are the fruits of the spirit, fruit produced by the spirit. Which of these attributes cannot be reproduced by self-effort? Good men with good intentions will produce these fruits in the flesh. They will mask self-righteousness in false humility.

An old teaching comes to mind that says a tree produces fruit by nature not by effort.

Matthew 7:20 (ESV) Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

This is not an encouragement to become fruit inspectors. We are not to judge others nor ourselves in these matters. If your roots extend into the steam and the Holy Spirit brings life to you, you need not worry about what fruit is being produced. If you are not rooted and grounded no amount of effort will produce fruit during a drought.

Matthew 6:27 (KJV) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Once cubit is equal to one step indicating both length of life and forward progress. Our human insecurities seek reassurance in signs and wonders. What can I measure to ensure I am making forward progress? That is a worldly attitude and not a kingdom attribute. If we trust God we will not worry about those things which are not within our control. Fruits of the spirit are produced by the spirit and not within our control. Trust God to finish what He has begun. Be not anxious.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Does growth in Christ indicate maturity? In the world we may well call someone immature by their actions and not their age. Conversely we might identify a youth as mature beyond his years. This is the essence of the opening passage, commending one another by comparing one another among ourselves.

I did an internet search for signs of Christian maturity and I discovered a wide variety of results about spiritual maturity. It would seem the internet equates Christian maturity with spiritual maturity. That was not my question and I did not receive a direct answer. Perhaps the best of those web search results was one man who said, “I am not mature and neither are you.” Those words were generated with an understanding that maturity is not attained until we are translated into the incorruptible form. That is one way to look at it but what does the bible say?

Matthew 13:8-9 (ESV) ”Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

The parable of the sower indicates that the quantity of production was no bearing on maturity, just that fruit has been produced. Our basic insecurities as humans tends to believe that effort produces results. If I have not produced enough fruit, I am not trying hard enough. That is a world view and Satan’s recipe for failure.

It may be that the internet provided a spiritual maturity answer and not a Christian maturity answer because the bible provides a list of spiritual fruits. That is something that can be measured.

My answer to what defines Christian mature is simple. God the Father determines maturity. Your relationship with Him matures. If He wants more of you, He will tell you. Don’t let me and anyone else replace His opinion with ours.