1 Kings 3:7 "I am only a little child"
In the Gospels, Jesus says that unless we become like children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:30) and the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children (Luke 18:16).
At the same time, we are told to "no longer be children" who are swayed by every new, "spiritual" idea that comes along (Ephesians 4:14) and that in order to grow spiritually we should leave childish things behind us (1 Corinthians 13:11).
So how do we resolve the paradox of trying to be like children while trying to be spiritually mature?
What we are to leave behind is childish thinking (1 Corinthians 13:11 & 14:20). What should remain is childlike faith; a humble dependence on God for wisdom (Matthew 18:14). Not naïveté or gullibility, but a reasonable, reasoned trust in God Himself.
Perhaps you've heard an explanation like that before. But ironically, mature thinking never outgrows an ongoing child-like faith in God because we are trusting in the Author of all wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:25; James 1:5).
We echo Solomon's own prayer:
“Now, O Lord my God... I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties... So give your servant a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong.” Amen. 1 Kings 3:7 & 9 (New International Version, 1984)
At the same time, we are told to "no longer be children" who are swayed by every new, "spiritual" idea that comes along (Ephesians 4:14) and that in order to grow spiritually we should leave childish things behind us (1 Corinthians 13:11).
So how do we resolve the paradox of trying to be like children while trying to be spiritually mature?
What we are to leave behind is childish thinking (1 Corinthians 13:11 & 14:20). What should remain is childlike faith; a humble dependence on God for wisdom (Matthew 18:14). Not naïveté or gullibility, but a reasonable, reasoned trust in God Himself.
Perhaps you've heard an explanation like that before. But ironically, mature thinking never outgrows an ongoing child-like faith in God because we are trusting in the Author of all wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:25; James 1:5).
We echo Solomon's own prayer:
“Now, O Lord my God... I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties... So give your servant a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong.” Amen. 1 Kings 3:7 & 9 (New International Version, 1984)
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