All Weekly Sharpening Posts

October 5, 2023

Giving up Childish Ways (Part 1)

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways (1 Corinthians 13:11).

What do you think of when you read this verse?  Are you still speaking like a child and reasoning like a child?  Have you given up your childish ways?

As a kid in the 1970s and 80s, I was a huge Star Wars fan and collected every action figure possible.  I played with Hot Wheels, Legos, Evel Knievel, and the Six-million-dollar Man.  I’m still a Star Wars fan, but I’ve long since stopped playing with my childhood toys.

But this isn’t what Paul is talking about.  It’s much more profound.

As a man, do I speak like a child?

As a man, do I think like a child?

As a man, do I reason like a child?

It’s a problem if I do.

The Apostle Paul gave up his childish ways when he became a man, just like we should.  I would also argue that holding on to our childish ways prevents us from becoming the men God wants us to be.

We’ll explore these three things–speaking, thinking, and reasoning like a child over the next several weeks.

In the meantime, I encourage you to examine your life more closely to see if you are clinging to childish ways.

As the Holy Spirit reveals these things, prayerfully consider the changes you will make.

More next week.

 

River West’s “Man Night” is THIS Sunday night (October 8).  It’s a night of good food, good conversation, corn hole, pickle ball and axe throwing.   RSVP HERE.