Jump Start # 64
Matthew 18:3 ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
This passage speaks of two important concepts: change and conditions. The change is found in being converted and becoming like children. The condition is found in that unless we do this we cannot be in the kingdom of Heaven. Both of these concepts are hard. We fight change. We generally are creatures of habit. Many of us drive the same roads, go to the same places to eat, order the same thing on the menu on a regular basis. Even when we are told of other options we stick with what is comfortable. The hardest thing to change is self. It’s a whole lot easier to point out what the other guy needs to change than it is to fix our self. Sometimes change is costly and painful. After a person has been doing things for a long time, it is just hard to stop and change. The doctor may change our diets, such as no salt, even though living longer demands that change, some fuss and fight it. The reason is simple, change is hard.
Jesus wants us to change. He wants us to be converted and become like children. There is a reason Jesus said this. The chapter begins with the disciples arguing about which one was the greatest in the kingdom. Many thoughts may have entered this debate. Who did Jesus pick first? Who spent most time with Jesus? Who sat with Him last night at dinner? Pride drives such discussions. It is easy to dismiss this by saying “it doesn’t matter,” but actually it did! Such talk illustrates that they weren’t headed for the kingdom. Jesus wanted them to be humble. He wanted them to have the heart of a servant. The best illustration stood right before them and they never saw it.
Jesus said become like children. There are two sides to that thought. The negative is not what Jesus intended. Some are like children, in the negative way. We use the expression, “they need to grow up.” Childish thinking. Childish behavior. Fits. Pouts. Tantrums. Selfish. Crying if they don’t get their way. This is not what Jesus meant. Some excel in such behavior. They are hard to work with. They ruin marriages. They strain church relationships. These kinds of “children” have never learned that “it’s not about them.”
What Jesus has in mind are the adorable and positive attributes of children. We can be surrounded by adults so much, especially “childish” adults, that we forget to notice children. They have a sense of awe and excitement about them. They get excited and it’s easy for them to show love and joy. I’ve seen them run in airports and restaurants to give grandpa’s a giant hug. Children love to ask questions. They are curious. They want to know. I wonder if adults either have all the answers, which I doubt, or their curiosity lamp is turned off. Ever see kids at a zoo? They run from exhibit to exhibit. They shout, laugh and basically enjoy life. Ever notice kids playing together? Sometimes they get mad at each other. Tears flow. One runs to find mom. But after a while they are back playing as if nothing ever happened. That’s hard for adults, isn’t it? We remember. We hold grudges. Words are said and we can’t let them go. Children are humble. They don’t understand value and prestige. Economics means nothing to a child. And so they play, the poor child with the rich child. I’ve seen children willing to give away their toys to a neighbor friend who didn’t have that particular toy. Their heart speaks of love and sharing.
If the disciples spent a day at the park watching children they’d be better off. They’d learn cooperation, sharing, trust and humbleness, the trademarks of the kingdom. But then, what about us? Maybe the same would help us. It’s ok to act like a child, Jesus said so.
Roger