Immaturity – A Threat to Spiritual Marriages

Introduction:
  I. In listing five deadly factors in teen-age marriages, the 
     presiding judge of the California Domestic Court has named 
     one as immaturity which he defines as:
     A. Self-centeredness.
     B. Inability to compromise
     C. Inability to rise above hurt feelings.
     D. Failure to postpone immediate pleasure in favor of 
        future benefits.
     E. Unwillingness to do unpleasant chores when they need to 
        be done.
 II. The Bible pictures the Christian as one who is married to 
     Christ.
     A. Romans 7:4
     B. Ephesians 5:25
III. It seems to me that these same threats to marriages listed 
     above, are also threats to one’s marriage to Christ.

Body:
  I. Danger of self-centeredness.
     A. Too great a concern for self, very dangerous.
     B. This is discussed thoroughly in Philippians.
        1. Philippians 2:3-4
        2. Philippians 2:5-8
        3. Philippians 2:19-21
        4. Philippians 3:4-8
        5. Philippians 4:8
     C. When person feels that he is to be on the receiving end 
        all the time, he can cause a lot of problems.

 II. Inability to compromise.
     A. I am not talking about principle or conviction.
     B. But where no principle or conviction is involved, in 
        matters of personal preferences and judgments, the 
        willingness to compromise is so important.

III. Inability to rise above hurt feelings.
     A. No, the problem is not just in getting feelings hurt.
     B. The problem is the inability to rise above those hurt 
        feelings.  “pouts”
     C. Consider John Mark.
        1. Acts 15:36-39
        2. 2 Timothy 4:11

 IV. Inability to postpone immediate pleasures in favor of 
     future benefits.
     A. We see it on every hand.
        1. Esau
        2. Genesis 25:29-34
     B. Jesus pin-points the problem in Matthew 16:26.
     C. If the Devil were to appear undisguised, offer Cadillac 
        filled with $1000 bills for your soul, most if not all 
        would say no!
     D. But everyday, we sell our souls, not for Cadillac and 
        $1000 bills, but for a mess of pottage.

  V. Unwillingness to do unpleasant chores when they need to be 
     done.
     A. There are a lot of unpleasant tasks to be done.
     B. But the tasks must be done.

Conclusion:
  I. 1 Corinthians 13:11
 II. 1 Corinthians 16:13
III. 1 Corinthians 14:20