Believers Are Childish - Mark 10:13-16
Believers Are Childish - Mark 10:13-16
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 22, 2010 AM
Have you ever dealt with someone who refuses to forgive another because of a perceived slight? Believers can become bitter because they find it hard to forgive and then use the excuse that they are honoring God. This is spiritually childish. Perhaps you have witnessed an adult who has an emotional fit like a two-year-old who demands that the world revolve around them. I have. That is what a believer is doing when they do not forgive. I have often said that, “It isn’t a person’s age that makes them an adult, but how they act in life.” One thing that personally drives me crazy is when adults act like children. Whether it is adults dressing like teenagers or an adult’s childish emotional behavior, it is disconcerting to see adults acting like children. However, there is a time when adults truly need to be childish. When should an adult have a childish moment?
Here in Mark’s gospel we find Jesus again using children as an example for his adult companions to exemplify. Why would Jesus use children so often? I believe it is because children were not only often seen as inconsequential in his society, but they also reflected a simple kind of trusting dependence. Children willingly trust and are straightforward about what they think or believe. Sadly, too many adults, while becoming “adult-like,” have forgotten the positive aspects of being childlike with their faith. Jesus reminds us of why believers are childish.
READ: Mark 10:13-16
Teaching children to trust you can be difficult; however, it does not stop when they are preschoolers. Trust is built upon a daily basis as you live your life out in front of your child. Adults can throw up roadblocks in the life of a child as they do not carry out promises, promise unrealistic things, or have unrealistic expectations. In fact, adults can be the greatest hindrance to a child giving their lives to the Lord. We find here that Jesus’ disciples became obstructions to little children who wanted to come to Christ. Mark shows us that…
I. Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith! (Vv. 13-14)
1. The blessings of God are found by those who earnestly seek him! When the disciples took it upon themselves to stop the people by rebuking them, Jesus became “indignant.” He was annoyed and for good reason. Simple unhindered faith is never ignored by the Lord. Adults are the ones that complicate it. We want to make rules or guidelines to follow. True faith is found when we abandon ourselves to the Lord. When we are willing to crawl all over Jesus and have him touch our lives with no rules, no excuses, and no guidelines. Perhaps the disciples saw the people as misusing Jesus’ time, or they felt that the children were of no consequence. Whatever the reason, they were perturbed by folks bothering Jesus with their kids. Their attitude was misguided. They took offense for something that should not have concerned them. Jesus did not mind. I believe Jesus saw the real reason the people wanted him to touch their children. They desired the Lord’s blessing in their children’s lives! How wonderful is that? Shouldn’t all loving parents want that for their children and future generations? Yet far too many adults keep their children from knowing Jesus. I have never seen a child that has a problem with Jesus, only the parents. Children instinctively love Jesus because they know he loves them. Jesus did not mind that the crowds wanted him to bless their kids. This is why he responds by telling them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Kids love Christ. Adults would do well to not hinder them from doing so. However, a deeper truth here is for adults to also stop making barriers in their lives in coming to know the Lord. He desires that we crawl up in his lap. Being childish means no hindrances or personal barriers concerning your faith!
EXAMPLE: Do you know the best way to frustrate a child? Change the rules in the middle of a game. During Youth Week, we often play a game called Aggie Kickball. It is sort of like regular kickball, except the boys have to run backwards, kick with their opposite foot, a home run is an automatic out, and the rules can change at any time. For those who want defined rules or guidelines in a game, it can be frustrating to play, but that is what makes the game a challenge. It is designed not to necessarily have a winner or loser, but to have fun. Yet in all the years, I have seen it played, the players always end up taking it more seriously than it is meant to be. The reason is obvious, even youth want to know how to play the game so they can easily win. Can you imagine how frustrating it was for the parents who wanted Jesus to bless them but the disciples were playing misguided defense? Throwing up roadblocks and making sure Jesus wasn’t bothered? How sad is it when adults do throw up barriers, not only in the life of a child who desire to come to Christ, but in their own lives as well? Coming to Jesus should be simple with no roadblocks or encumbrance. Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith!
You can usually tell when a child has an ulterior motive. One little girl used to get all cuddly and sweet, full of hugs and kisses, when she wanted something out of her parents, and no it wasn’t my daughter Katie. Katie used to ask for a drink of water and when you got up to get it for her, she would run over and take the place where you were sitting. She was all dehydrated and thirsty beforehand, but full of energy and laughing like crazy as she beat a mad dash to your chair. It is sad when adults have hidden agendas in life. The workplace, marriages, and relationships will suffer when you do. When it concerns your faith, it can be disastrous. We find here in Mark’s gospel that…
II. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith! (Vv. 15-16)
1. We come to Jesus in simple childlike trust! The kingdom of God belongs to those who are willing to lose their distrust of things they cannot see and completely trust “in things hoped for!” You cannot be “good enough” for God, he is has already provided a means for you to be holy. You cannot follow enough rules or regulations; God has completed all the tasks required. The game plan was made before the creation of the world and God has already finished it. Jesus, when he rebuked his disciples concerning their unfounded indignation at the children crawling all over him, tells them the key: “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” What, was Jesus kidding? The kingdom of God belongs to a bunch of ragtag messy scruffy ruffians that crawl all over you! What in the world, did he mean by this cryptic statement? God desires that the person look at his own heart, at who they truly are, without any hidden schemes before making the decision to follow him or not. Children easily do that because all they see is Jesus. “Adults” begin to focus on themselves and ask self-centered childish questions: “What’s in it for me?” “What will I have to give up?” “What will this require of me?” Children simply and openly say, “Okay!” God’s kingdom is not entered by second guessing God. It is not obtained by phony spirituality, personal merit, achievement, good looks, or physical capabilities. God looks at the human heart. Notice that Jesus then “took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” It is as simple as that. Coming to Jesus and allowing him to take you in his arms without any hidden agendas. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
EXAMPLE: The old idiom goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” This means that you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly. However, we can never ever fool God even though folks often try. It is both sad and sacrilegious that people think they can fool God by tricking him or by saying one thing but doing another. It is kind of childish and spiritually immature. PT Barnum said, “There’s a fool born every minute.” He deliberately fooled people in order to have a successful circus or sideshow. There are magicians who make a living at sleight of hand. Adults who think they can trick God with a verbal sleight of hand while saying one thing and doing another is just like trying to be a spiritual PT Barnum with God. God can see through your trickery and hypocrisy. My dad would say, “Actions speak louder than words.” The children that came to Jesus came with no hidden agenda or sleight of hand. They were readily welcomed into the kingdom of God. Coming to Jesus means not having any ulterior motives. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
Conclusion:
Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith and being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
—
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2010 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 22, 2010 AM
Have you ever dealt with someone who refuses to forgive another because of a perceived slight? Believers can become bitter because they find it hard to forgive and then use the excuse that they are honoring God. This is spiritually childish. Perhaps you have witnessed an adult who has an emotional fit like a two-year-old who demands that the world revolve around them. I have. That is what a believer is doing when they do not forgive. I have often said that, “It isn’t a person’s age that makes them an adult, but how they act in life.” One thing that personally drives me crazy is when adults act like children. Whether it is adults dressing like teenagers or an adult’s childish emotional behavior, it is disconcerting to see adults acting like children. However, there is a time when adults truly need to be childish. When should an adult have a childish moment?
Here in Mark’s gospel we find Jesus again using children as an example for his adult companions to exemplify. Why would Jesus use children so often? I believe it is because children were not only often seen as inconsequential in his society, but they also reflected a simple kind of trusting dependence. Children willingly trust and are straightforward about what they think or believe. Sadly, too many adults, while becoming “adult-like,” have forgotten the positive aspects of being childlike with their faith. Jesus reminds us of why believers are childish.
READ: Mark 10:13-16
Teaching children to trust you can be difficult; however, it does not stop when they are preschoolers. Trust is built upon a daily basis as you live your life out in front of your child. Adults can throw up roadblocks in the life of a child as they do not carry out promises, promise unrealistic things, or have unrealistic expectations. In fact, adults can be the greatest hindrance to a child giving their lives to the Lord. We find here that Jesus’ disciples became obstructions to little children who wanted to come to Christ. Mark shows us that…
I. Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith! (Vv. 13-14)
1. The blessings of God are found by those who earnestly seek him! When the disciples took it upon themselves to stop the people by rebuking them, Jesus became “indignant.” He was annoyed and for good reason. Simple unhindered faith is never ignored by the Lord. Adults are the ones that complicate it. We want to make rules or guidelines to follow. True faith is found when we abandon ourselves to the Lord. When we are willing to crawl all over Jesus and have him touch our lives with no rules, no excuses, and no guidelines. Perhaps the disciples saw the people as misusing Jesus’ time, or they felt that the children were of no consequence. Whatever the reason, they were perturbed by folks bothering Jesus with their kids. Their attitude was misguided. They took offense for something that should not have concerned them. Jesus did not mind. I believe Jesus saw the real reason the people wanted him to touch their children. They desired the Lord’s blessing in their children’s lives! How wonderful is that? Shouldn’t all loving parents want that for their children and future generations? Yet far too many adults keep their children from knowing Jesus. I have never seen a child that has a problem with Jesus, only the parents. Children instinctively love Jesus because they know he loves them. Jesus did not mind that the crowds wanted him to bless their kids. This is why he responds by telling them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Kids love Christ. Adults would do well to not hinder them from doing so. However, a deeper truth here is for adults to also stop making barriers in their lives in coming to know the Lord. He desires that we crawl up in his lap. Being childish means no hindrances or personal barriers concerning your faith!
EXAMPLE: Do you know the best way to frustrate a child? Change the rules in the middle of a game. During Youth Week, we often play a game called Aggie Kickball. It is sort of like regular kickball, except the boys have to run backwards, kick with their opposite foot, a home run is an automatic out, and the rules can change at any time. For those who want defined rules or guidelines in a game, it can be frustrating to play, but that is what makes the game a challenge. It is designed not to necessarily have a winner or loser, but to have fun. Yet in all the years, I have seen it played, the players always end up taking it more seriously than it is meant to be. The reason is obvious, even youth want to know how to play the game so they can easily win. Can you imagine how frustrating it was for the parents who wanted Jesus to bless them but the disciples were playing misguided defense? Throwing up roadblocks and making sure Jesus wasn’t bothered? How sad is it when adults do throw up barriers, not only in the life of a child who desire to come to Christ, but in their own lives as well? Coming to Jesus should be simple with no roadblocks or encumbrance. Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith!
You can usually tell when a child has an ulterior motive. One little girl used to get all cuddly and sweet, full of hugs and kisses, when she wanted something out of her parents, and no it wasn’t my daughter Katie. Katie used to ask for a drink of water and when you got up to get it for her, she would run over and take the place where you were sitting. She was all dehydrated and thirsty beforehand, but full of energy and laughing like crazy as she beat a mad dash to your chair. It is sad when adults have hidden agendas in life. The workplace, marriages, and relationships will suffer when you do. When it concerns your faith, it can be disastrous. We find here in Mark’s gospel that…
II. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith! (Vv. 15-16)
1. We come to Jesus in simple childlike trust! The kingdom of God belongs to those who are willing to lose their distrust of things they cannot see and completely trust “in things hoped for!” You cannot be “good enough” for God, he is has already provided a means for you to be holy. You cannot follow enough rules or regulations; God has completed all the tasks required. The game plan was made before the creation of the world and God has already finished it. Jesus, when he rebuked his disciples concerning their unfounded indignation at the children crawling all over him, tells them the key: “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” What, was Jesus kidding? The kingdom of God belongs to a bunch of ragtag messy scruffy ruffians that crawl all over you! What in the world, did he mean by this cryptic statement? God desires that the person look at his own heart, at who they truly are, without any hidden schemes before making the decision to follow him or not. Children easily do that because all they see is Jesus. “Adults” begin to focus on themselves and ask self-centered childish questions: “What’s in it for me?” “What will I have to give up?” “What will this require of me?” Children simply and openly say, “Okay!” God’s kingdom is not entered by second guessing God. It is not obtained by phony spirituality, personal merit, achievement, good looks, or physical capabilities. God looks at the human heart. Notice that Jesus then “took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” It is as simple as that. Coming to Jesus and allowing him to take you in his arms without any hidden agendas. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
EXAMPLE: The old idiom goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” This means that you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly. However, we can never ever fool God even though folks often try. It is both sad and sacrilegious that people think they can fool God by tricking him or by saying one thing but doing another. It is kind of childish and spiritually immature. PT Barnum said, “There’s a fool born every minute.” He deliberately fooled people in order to have a successful circus or sideshow. There are magicians who make a living at sleight of hand. Adults who think they can trick God with a verbal sleight of hand while saying one thing and doing another is just like trying to be a spiritual PT Barnum with God. God can see through your trickery and hypocrisy. My dad would say, “Actions speak louder than words.” The children that came to Jesus came with no hidden agenda or sleight of hand. They were readily welcomed into the kingdom of God. Coming to Jesus means not having any ulterior motives. Being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
Conclusion:
Being childish means no hindrances concerning your faith and being childish means no hidden agendas concerning your faith!
—
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2010 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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