Put Away Childish Things

I got up early this morning so I could get some work done before the kids get up. They are up now, having a chat in the kitchen while I sat and got some things wrapped up. I had to take a break to write this quick note.

My oldest was scolding my youngest, who is only a year younger, because he said “what the…” I don’t like them saying that because it’s just a short way of saying, “what the hell.” At first, my oldest said, “don’t say that. Mom doesn’t like it.” Okay, good. I’m glad to know he is paying attention and wants to please mama. I felt somewhat proud of him, other than this trouble he has with correcting people compulsively. But, then he said this. “kids can’t say bad words. When you grow up, then you can say all the bad words you want to.” Pride gone.

This has me thinking about all of the “adult” behaviors that our society generally considers permissible.  Of course, as Christians, we should know better. We should know that things like profanity, drunkenness, sexual misconduct, and all those “adult” activities are wrong. I’m sure anyone reading this gets that. I’m also sure that anyone reading this wants to be a good example for their children and other children in general. If you’re like me, falling short of a good Christian example comes with a hefty dose of guilt as it is, and I’m not trying to send anyone on a guilt trip…just thinking about how sad this is.

How sad is it that the idea of adulthood that many children look up to, and even look forward to, is ungodliness? I looked forward to being able to do all those forbidden things when I “grew up.” I think many kids do, and maybe to some degree there is benefit in making mistakes. As long as we learn from them. Yet, as adults — especially as Christian adults — we should always do our best to be aware of the example we set for our children.

This world is doing everything it can to destroy our children, and Christian values are one of the greatest oppositions to this threat. We need to hold to our Christian values for our little ones.

⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:4-11).

In the kingdom of heaven, we put aside childish things. We put aside those vulgar and profane appetites, and if we sincerely follow Jesus, sin in general has less and less appeal. These things become childish and not “adult” at all. Let’s do our best to put away childish things and replace them with loving behaviors the demonstrate Jesus to children and those young in the faith, no matter what their earthly age, so our children and the children of the Lord can have a better understanding of what it means to be a “grown up.”