READ: John 21:18-19
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
Jeremiah 48:11
To mellow and mature, you must experience captivity, bondage and restrictions. Maturity also comes when you enter into captivity. There are many restrictions that you will experience on your way to maturity. Being stuck under an oppressive leader is a common type of captivity. Being in a relationship with a father may be difficult and challenging and is yet another type of captivity. Marriage is one of the restrictions and forms of captivity that a minister can experience.
When you have been in captivity, you become a mature minister of the gospel. The scripture just before shows us that captivity is one of the ways to becoming mellow and mature. Do not run away from the captivity that God gives to you. There are things that you will not like but you will be forced to do. Apostle Peter was told by Jesus, “One day someone will carry you where you do not want to go”. Peter was not happy to hear this and began to ask questions about John. (John 21:19-22).
There is nothing like maturity without captivity. Captivity is a necessary stage to your full maturity and development. It is important to accept captivity and restrictions. There are many restrictions for a minister. You cannot just live anyhow. You cannot just do what you like and what you want. You must do what God wants. You cannot just have the friends you want to have or any relationship you want to have. You cannot have the things you want to have. You must have the things that God wants and the people that God wants in your life. Is it not surprising that it is a mature person who quietly allows himself to be carried along?