Are You Childish?
Two little boys are playing in the living room floor. A mess of matchbox cars, action figures, and little accessories that will soon be lost forever to the vacuum cleaner surrounds them. Behind them, Saturday morning cartoons dance across the screen. The world is beautiful! What could be better than brothers peacefully playing together? Well, it’s good while it lasts. Soon boy one notices that boy two’s action figure is better, or maybe it’s that boy one doesn’t want to play the way that boy two wants to play. Now what was a refreshing scene is an ugly, noisy, screaming, crying—snotty mess.
If you’re a parent of small children (or have been) you know what this is about. If you’ve ever been a child you can relate. Even if you are a child now, you know what I’m talking about. Teaching, manipulating, and disciplining children to be patient with others, sacrificial and willing to share is among the most important tasks of parents. Sometimes, the job is well done—children become mature and loving in their dealings with others; assertive, but not aggressive. Others, however, simply learn more socially acceptable ways to be childish. Culture gives those who seek it forms of speech, ways and means of acting, and organizational structures and accompanying procedures that enable them to be selfish, quarrelsome, unkind, and factious in a “grownup” way. Yes, many “grownups” covet what belongs to others, expect to always (or most of the time) get their way, and throw fits when they aren’t appeased. What’s worse is that often the adults who are engaging in childish, unspiritual behavior self-justify what they’re doing and claim the moral high ground! Call it what it is! If it’s childish, it’s childish.
Well, never fear, because no one is too grownup to grow up. Our Lord has leveled the playing field by reminding us that we’re all children in his sight (Matthew 11:25, 15:26; Mark 10:24). Jesus has shown us in his word what is good in childhood, and teaches us to hold on to that (Matthew 18:2-4), while calling us to leave behind those things we call childish that are unspiritual and unprofitable (1 Corinthians 13:11). None of us are grown up, unless we’re grown up into him (Ephesians 4:13-15). The saddest thing is this: since grownup children have learned to justify their fits and only have them in “grownup” ways, many never realize what they’re doing, and so, never grow up. I’ll be the first to admit that I sometimes act very childish, but I’m growing—up into Him. I hope you are too. The next time someone says or does something you don’t like, or won’t say or do something the way you want them to, stop and think before you act. Handle it like a grownup. More on this subject soon.
Post your own thoughts.
—JLP
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I grew up with 3 brothers. When we were children, we would always fight over a posession that the other would have. We also had dreams of what we would be when we grew up. As time when by I went to a univiersity and finally graduated with a Masters Degree. My brothers did not complete a college education. Even today, I feel the same jealousy of having something that my brothers do not. I eventually convinced them that it was more important to serve God. Nothing will matter on the day we leave this earth. God allowed the miracle of allowing my brothers to see that God loves us all equally. It is something that will not happen in an earthly family. God’s love is pure.
When we become mature, we should put childesh ways behind us. Now there is Faith, Hope & Love. The greatest is Love. Putting childesh ways behind us will lead us to Love our Neighbors as ourselves and to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind.
Thanks for the comment, Randy. —JLP