Are You Acting Like a Child?

We have all heard the phrase, "You are acting like a child." This usually means that a person is being like a spoiled, pouting, complaining, whining brat. But let's look at it from another perspective with a positive connotation. In Matthew 18:3‭-‬4, Jesus tells his disciples,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

"Become like little children." What does Jesus mean by this?

At one time, I was a fitness trainer and led fitness classes. Often the attendees would moan and groan about what they had to do to reach their goals or not even show up to class with plenty of excuses to back them up. At the same time, I also led preschool fitness and sports classes. These children came to class with excitement in their eyes, willing to do anything and participated with enthusiasm. Which kind of student of Jesus Christ and God's word are we? Do we moan and groan, procrastinate with plenty of excuses? Or do we show up each day with excitement and enthusiasm?

We may have had that childlike enthusiasm at one time and it has gradually fizzled out over time as the cares of this world crowd it out. How do we get it back? Or how do we not lose it?

We need to follow the example of little children.

Children seek to learn new things with eagerness. As adults, we should seek to learn something new in God's word by prayerfully meditating on scripture daily and asking God to guide us into greater understanding and wisdom. David wrote in Psalms 119:18, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." And in verses 97 & 103, "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Another example from children is that they want to be like their older siblings or friends. So we should desire to be like our older brother and friend, Jesus. Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:1-2, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us." And Jesus tells us in John 15:13, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

Children also desire to spend time with other children for friendship and fun activities. We should spend time with others who are of "like mind" in Christ. Whether that be at church, online, or on the phone. Psalms 133 tells us how good and pleasant it is when brethren gather together in unity. There's strength and encouragement in a community of believers which helps keep our enthusiasm stoked.

The next characteristic we can learn from children is they don't cling to the cares of this world. We don't have to either. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 to not worry about our needs because our Father will take care of us. When children have a need or are hurt, they run to their parents. We should do the same with God, our Father, by laying down our burdens in front of him with full confidence that He will make everything better. Then we can live carefree too.

We will finish with the example that little children enjoy sharing stories about all their experiences with a sparkle in their eye. And most often, they don't hold anything back! We may run to God in times of need, but we also need to remember to go to him with praise and thanksgiving. Proverbs 15:8 tells us that He delights in our prayers. And we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that God’s will for us is to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances”. He desires to hear from his children no matter what we have to talk about.

It’s human nature to lose that childlike zeal as we get lost in the cares of adulthood, and Apostle Paul was aware of this as he reminds us in Romans 12:11-12, to “never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” So let us remember this as we follow the words of Jesus and grow to be “like little children" with wide-eyed excitement and enthusiasm for God, our Father, and His word each day.

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