CHILDISH OR CHILD-LIKE

 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

               Birthdays are often a time for reflection. As we mark another year of life, we stop to think about where we have been and where we are headed. Today is that day for me.

               There have been many thoughts going through my mind the past week or so. As I can see the end of my current ministry as an interim pastor fast approaching, I have given much thought to what is next. I have also taken stock of my life up to this point. I am pleased with some of the things that are on my personal resume, and not pleased with some others. Above all, I have thought about where I am on my faith journey.

               When Jesus was teaching His disciples about what it means to be a follower of His, He told them that they needed to become like little children. On one occasion the disciples were discussing who was going to be the greatest in the coming kingdom. Jesus responded to them by introducing a radical idea to about what it means to be great.

Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV)
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

               Jesus’ words contrast to the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Jesus said that we are to be like little children and Paul tells us to put away childish things. This seems to be a contradiction, but it is not. There is difference a between being childish and child-like.

               One of the things I have come to grips with is that I still have some childish ideas rolling around in my head. A person who is childish is self-focused. They think more about themselves than about others. They tend to be demanding and impatient. Their focus tends to be on what makes them happy. As I look in the mirror, I can still see the vestiges of these things in my life. Although I have matured in years, there are times when I still think childish things and act in childish ways.

               On the other hand, to be child-like is very different. A person who is child-like is willing to trust others. He or she is humble, knowing that they can learn from those around them. A child-like person doesn’t over-think things. They tend to take each circumstance or each day as it comes.     

               Children are naturally spontaneous and creative. They use their imaginations. Children naturally want to learn, although not always in the way we want to teach them. Children love to explore and experience new things. As a person grows up something happens to these qualities in the majority of us. We become less spontaneous and more calculated. We become less creative and confine ourselves to coloring within the lines. We become less imaginative and start to conform to the current norm. We stop exploring and settle for the status quo.

               As we mature, some of us discover these child-like qualities all over again, but in a new way. We stop worrying about what others think and start expanding our world again. We stop feeling like we must conform and begin exploring life in new ways. I think this is what Jesus was talking about in a way.

               When we become followers of Jesus, our eyes are opened and we begin to experience life in new ways. We stop conforming to the world as the Holy Spirit begins to transform us from the inside out. That is what Paul was getting at in Romans 12:1-3.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

               Moving from being childish to being child-like doesn’t just happen automatically. It takes intentional effort on our part. As Paul said, we need to put away childish things. All of us have some childish things in our lives, vestiges of our old life. Part of maturing is recognizing these things and then taking steps to put them aside. We never want to lose a child-like spirit, but we do want to jettison childishness from our lives.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.