At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you
change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever
becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”[1]
…The development of the neocortex,
however, also ushers in the ability to imagine possible-and as yet
unrealized-futures. This ability affects us both negatively and positively. I
have already mentioned the positive aspect of imagining possible futures: it
allows us to make plans, set-up goals and strive towards them. The negative
side to imagining possible futures is that it makes us worry a lot more than we
otherwise would. …. A child lacks both the ability to empathize and the ability
to time-travel, which is why children are supremely self-centered, but
spontaneous and "in the moment". Adults, on the other hand, have both
abilities, which is why we are more capable of compassion, but also more
fragmented in time. …. What does all this mean for being childlike again? Or
more precisely, what does it take to regain the sense of unselfconscious
spontaneity while also being compassionate? …. What it takes to be a child
again is to understand the sources of fragmentation, and then overcome them. For
most of us, what fragments us is our desire to maintain high self-worth-through
our looks, achievements, fame, power, money, etc. As we grow older, we worry
increasingly about our deteriorating looks. We yearn for our youthful looks
even as we recognize that we are, at the present moment, the most youthful we
will ever be for the rest of our lives. And most of us also worry about our
achievements, fame, etc., and how they compare to that of others. These worries
erode into our self-worth and that makes us feel sad, inadequate and depressed.
…. So, crucial to being in the moment, and thus crucial to being childlike
(spontaneous, unselfconscious and joyful) is to delink the tie between how much
we value ourselves from these extrinsic aspects. The more we can feel good
about ourselves regardless of our looks and achievements, and all the other
things we desire-fame, money, power, respect, love, etc.-the more we will be
free to be in the moment. …. In sum, becoming childlike really takes a variety
of abilities: awareness of why we lose our childlikeness, courage to challenge
society's views about what's worthy of pursuit, and, finally, intelligence to
figure out an alternative set of rules by which to live. In short, it isn't
child's play to be childlike; in fact, it takes great maturity to be childlike.[2]
…having a childlike disposition before
God shows a measure of peace and composure in one’s life. When trust is present
in your spiritual walk, there is less need to call attention to yourself, less
selfishness, and less angst to be in control of everything and everyone. The
emotional stability that ensues can release us to be humble servants in our
marriages, families, workplaces, churches, and ministries. Humility is not a
sign of weakness, but evidence of a quiet and secure confidence in God.[3]
It is clear from reading, that the qualities of being like a
child to which Jesus referred, were not what we would call childish, they were positive
attributes most often lost on the journey to being an adult. Here are seven
positive characteristics of children, “Curiosity,
Excitement, Faith, Trust, Wonder, Short memory, Persistence.”[4]
Jesus was not recommending naivety or gullibility, as seen from his
instructions to the disciples before sending them out, “…I am sending you out like sheep
into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”[5] From the context in which Jesus
instructed his disciples to turn and be like a child, we see that pride was a
factor. The disciples were asking about importance and position. That connects
with what Raj Raghunathan wrote. “For most of us, what fragments us is our
desire to maintain high self-worth-through our looks, achievements, fame,
power, money, etc.” The quality missing in the disciples at that time was
humility.
In the scriptures, God is portrayed as the father of the
family:
Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them.
Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and
live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he
disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.[6]
Jesus sent word to his disciples, “…go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and
your Father, to my God and your God.’”[7] We
are children of God, “…to
all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children
of God…”[8] Our roll in God’s family
is to be his children. God the Father is the provider, the nurturer, the
sustainer. We as children are to be submissive to the guidance and direction of
our Father. Our submission to the Father is not because he is more powerful
than us, although he is. It’s not because he knows more than us, although he
does. It’s not because he is the Creator, although he is. We submit to God,
because he loves us, and wants the best for us.
Raj Raghunathan concluded his article “…it isn't child's
play to be childlike; in fact, it takes great maturity to be childlike.” To be
like a child in Jesus’ teaching is, firstly to be humble, and then be willing
to live by faith. Sometimes as adults our need to be in charge, if not only of
our own lives, is going to get in our way. We will have dissonance between
reason and faith, between intellect and belief. There is a desire to be well
thought of by our peers, and not seen as naïve and gullible. Think about what
Jesus said about rich people; “How
hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”[9]
Likely because their security is connected to their wealth. Maybe their persona
is tied up in their wealth. The problems rich people have preventing them
entering the kingdom may be obvious to the rest of us, but we shouldn’t gloat
because their issues are exaggerated and ours just less obvious. Long ago, I
heard an example of submitting to God. “A man fell over the edge of a cliff, luckily
he was able to grab on to a protruding root. Quickly an observer ran and held
out his hand to the person dangling below. Try as he may, the rescuer could not
pull the victim up. The rescuer asked the victim if he believed he could be
saved. The victim said he did, to which the rescuer said, ‘To prove that, you
will have to let go of the root.’” Some of us will have to let go of whatever
it is that we are hanging on to, in order to submit to God. Only when we let go
of attachments related to pride can God apply his saving grace. Pride causes rigidity
which cannot be molded; humility present a malleable soul easily formed by God’s
grace.
Jesus spoke to people in his day, offering them an
alternative to frustration and disenchantment.
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden
these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to
infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been
handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and
no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to
reveal him. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light.”[10]
[1]
Mat 18:1-4
[2]
Grow to Be a Child, What does it take to become childlike again? By, Raj
Raghunathan Ph.D.
[3]
Childish or Childlike? By Dr. Eric Scalise
[4]
7 Childlike Traits We Should Recapture To Live A Happier Life. By Ayodeji
Awosika,
[5]
Mat 10:16
[6]
Heb 12:9, 10
[7]
Joh 20:17
[8]
Joh 1:12
[9]
Luke 18:24
[10]
Mat 11:25-30
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