There are several ways to measure spiritual maturity. However, one outstanding method is to examine one’s level of forbearance. The higher you grow in the Lord, the more you can put up with the shortcomings of others. To someone at a much lower level of maturity, your forbearance will look like compromising standards. Whereas immature people tend to be severe with other people’s weaknesses, mature ones focus on themselves, looking for areas needing further improvement. One man uncannily said that some apply the law of Moses to the failures of other people, but employ grace to their own. That is the height of hypocrisy.
“The higher you grow in the Lord, the more you can put up with the shortcomings of others. To someone at a much lower level of maturity, your forbearance will look like compromising standards.”
In His maiden teaching, Jesus taught us to be wary of putting others to shame because of little faults in their lives when we have bigger ones in our lives. Those who know that we run this Christian race by grace are hesitant to rush to conclusions and condemn people. They realize that it is the grace of God that makes a difference in their lives and are willing to extend the same to others as well. Someone said that the best way to forget other people’s faults is to remember ours. How true this is! If you consider the fact that you are far from perfect, you will be less critical of other people in their weaknesses.