The Word ‘Children’

According to WikiAnswers the word ‘children’ is used 1,802 times in the Bible (KJV); and it is the 11th most commonly used noun in Scripture.  Family, and who belonged to whom has always been important to the Creator. In many passages children refers to the family ties and historical accounts, especially when Israel is called  ‘the children of Israel’.

But it is very common is the books of Psalms, or Jesus’ words, or the Epistles that we, the people of God, believers, are referred to as ‘children.’ God is our Father and we are His children.

So when Jesus was talking about children:

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.” Luke 9:47 or

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14.

is He talking about adults or children?  I think both. Everyone.  Here’s some comments I found when I wanted to learn more about what God wants us to learn about our relationship with Him:

Idea #1: Those who are considered lowly, meek, and servant-like will be exalted in God’s eyes.

These references were used in the context of Jesus’ disciples arguing about who among them would be the most important when Jesus proclaimed His throne. He needed them to see the ‘bigger picture’. He wanted to get across some very important thinking to his followers:

Being first is NOT important in God’s Kingdom.

John McArthur says it so well:

“They (the disciples) were still arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the Kingdom. I mean, they were really stuck on that issue. Ambition, pride, selfishness, self‑glory were behind the discord, the dissension and the in‑fighting among the Twelve…You don’t come into God’s Kingdom by your intellect. You don’t come into God’s Kingdom by your power and influence. You don’t come into God’s Kingdom by your birth or your birthright. God has chosen the humble.”

“Jesus doesn’t condemn the quest for greatness. He radically transforms it. Go ahead and pursue it, he says. But the path is down, not up.”   John Piper

Jesus valued those who were low in his time–the children, the poor, the lost, the lonely–and he lifted them up. He brought them from the edges into the center. He turned everything upside down.

Idea #2: Being like a child in your faith is how God seeks you and finds you.

Trusting, unpretentious, non-hypocritical, dependent, vulnerable, uncomplicated, seeking security.

Yikes! We grown-ups don’t want to be like that!! Especially if we’ve grown up in this wonderful country of ours where confidence, self-reliance, proving-we-did-something-all-on-our-own counts. That’s the stuff that gets us ahead. Right? Ahead of what? Ahead of whom?

I don’t think Christ’s expectations mean being namby pamby or jelly-like at all. If anything it requires a lot of courage and strength to do what He is asking of us. If we don’t trust God and His freedom plan for us like a little child, we won’t get it. It won’t make any sense to us. We’ll be ‘clueless’.

The children in Jesus’ arms were totally at peace and in a place of depending on Him. You don’t come to God with your intellect or your power, or your prestige, or your status, or your influence. You come to His kingdom like a child—humble.

Take a look at what Chuck Smith wrote:

“This is all about the motives of the heart.  He wants to transform our motives, our desires, the way we consider others, and the way we look at ourselves…The world’s way seeks position over others. The root of all of this from the world is of course is pride. And isn’t that the source of many troubles in our lives? God wants us to have the heart of a child. Jesus is referring to the heart of a child, the humility of a child, and the honest simplicity of faith that you see in children. He loves you like a father…There is a simple faith of trusting God that He asks of us.“

Now, that’s something to think about!

A Children’s Sermon ‘Who Is the Greatest?

The Salty Believer “Like a Child”