Maturity means being grown up and fully developed. It means silliness and foolishness have been replaced with wisdom and experience. Character has been developed. A fool seems to find it difficult to face the fact that until some effort is put into learning truth and goodness, his acts will continue to hinder his potential for happiness. It is better to be wise in our youth than foolish and unwilling to change or learn in our old age (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Maturity does not require aging—it requires seeking truth and applying wisdom. That can be done at any age. A sad and unfulfilled life is one in which the person ages before becoming mature. The lessons that could be learned early in life may be learned late (“ better late than never” we say as an excuse), but better by far is the life that moves toward being mature as a part of growing up. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth—seek Him early and rejoice in the life you have been given (Ecclesiastes 12:1).