Humble Like A Child

“Are you married?” said a voice to me. “No,” I replied. “Why not?” was the next question he asked. “Ummm, good question,” was all I could think of to say back. Who would dare to ask such a straight forward question? Who has enough boldness to come right out and ask that? A child. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to help out in Vacation Bible School. (Really, it was more of playing with kids rather than helping out.) A friend of mine is the children’s minister at church and I have been helping out (playing) a little this summer. I have to admit, my reasons for volunteering are not so I can teach the children something. Right below worshipping God, my next reason is somewhat selfish. The other reason I have been helping out is because it’s a chance for me to learn. Now, I already know most of the VBS stories and I know how to make dried macaroni into a necklace, so what exactly am I learning? I am learning from the children. Yes, I am 24 years old. Yes, I have way more experience in life than any of the children. So, what can they teach me? A lot. Jesus says if you want to be apart of the Kingdom of God, you have to come to Him like a humble child. Then, Jesus says if you come to Him like a humble child, you can be the greatest in the Kingdom. What the heck is Jesus trying to say here?
Sometimes being an adult is not that great. Bills to pay, bosses to answer to, relationships to maintain. Being an adult means having many responsibilities. Being an adult does have its advantages. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait until I grew up. When I was 15 I couldn’t wait until I turn 16 so I could just get in a car and drive. It’s funny because now I wish someone would drive me around sometimes. I also couldn’t wait until I could grow facial hair. I used to look at men with a beard or a mustache and say, “Now there’s a man.” An adult can grow facial hair, at least a male adult can. I’m not fully there on this one yet; some of it is a little patchy. Now though, I wish I didn’t have to shave. It’s funny how growing up works.
Becoming like a child. Grace-giving, accepting, loving, and forgiving – all qualities of a child that we tend to forget the older we grow. The humble little child that Jesus mentions didn’t have pride to stop him from coming to Jesus. That child’s mindset wasn’t, “I got this Jesus. I don’t need your help.” The child humbly came to Jesus because the child knew who Jesus was and what He could do. Jesus doesn’t want our pride to get in the way of coming to Him. The older we get, the harder it is for us to do this because the more stubborn we become. I look at older generations and see how so many of them are just stunted in their spiritual growth. They’re too set in their ways.
Put a black baby and a white baby together in the same room. Will they not play together? See if these babies look on each other with racist eyes. These children won’t judge each other. It’s not apart of their nature. But it happens all the time to adults. That person did this to me. She said that about me. Children don’t think like that. If someone does them wrong, they openly and humbly forgive.
Back to the kid who asked me that question. Why would he ask that bold and direct question? Because he is a child. He doesn’t hold back; it’s not in his nature. If he has a question or there is something on his heart, he will let you know. It is the nature of a child to be open. That’s what Jesus is saying, “Come to me and accept me openly. Without judgment, without caution, don’t hold back.” This is the way I want to come to Jesus. The open and honest humility of a child is what I want to have.