08.01.11 The 5th Key for Evaluating a Prospective Partner's Intellectual Maturity

5. Are Experiences Interpreted and Applied for Improvement?

Observe how the prospective partner responds to mistakes, setbacks and correction. Does the person reflect on what has happened, consider what can be learned and make necessary adjustments; or does she or he repeat the same errors, ignore warning signs or treat experience merely as something that happened rather than something to learn from?

Aquila and Priscilla must have noticed each other’s willingness to learn from the experiences they had gone through and apply them for improvement. Their successful journey reflects several opportunities for such an assertion. Although the bible is silent about any mistakes they would have encountered along the way, their profession as tent makers must have carried a lot of lessons in order to maintain them in business, in a commercial city such as Corinth. It is not far-fetched to suggest that they must have gone through a learning curve in order to become experts in their trade. That approach could also explain their success in ministry, which can’t have been a smooth sail. There must have been several challenges encountered and experienced picked and shared with followers and mentees, Apollos being one of them.

Jonathan learned nothing from the early signs of distribution gaps. Each warning passed without reflection or adjustment. His failure to interpret the early evidence became the reason the scandal grew and the reason Tabitha realised he was not ready for a partnership built on careful judgement. The same mistakes continued because nothing had been learned from earlier signs.

A partner who is intellectually mature treats experience as an opportunity to learn and improve; reflecting on mistakes, identifying lessons and adjusting his or her behaviour accordingly. That willingness to learn from experience strengthens the person’s judgement and helps him or her to grow in wisdom and responsibility.