For those of you who believe that I am a condescending Christian, I truly am not. I have great trouble with Matthew 18:3 and Mark 10:25. I have great trouble becoming like a child. Also, compared to the world's population, I am one of the wealthiest on Earth.

 

How do you bare your soul regarding these 2 passages?

 

 

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Hey Bro...I'm sure that you're a great guy with your heart in the right place. Hopefully some of the things that I have said didn't weigh too heavy on you, and that you feel completely welcome here. If I did overstep my boundaries I am truly sorry. Every one seems to let their personality shine here, so you should feel as free as anyone to do so too, and hopefully I didn't cramp your style.

 

Regarding the Biblical references, I have always found these to be interesting. Especially the Matthew one as it's been my life long goal to stay childlike forever. Perhaps I'm in denial, and unless I end up with a whole head of gray hair, I get the impression that so far I've done a good job of confusing people about my real age. I don't try to act 5, 10, teens, or 20's etc..., but in general I come across with a nondescript age. I rarely feel as if I'm presenting myself as a mature adult, or the age that I am. It's not a vanity thing with me but more that although it's inevitable that I'll age, it's not necessary for me to match my growing age with an accepted idea of how one should act at any given age.

 

With the Mark reference, I read it as saying that richness does not automatically entitle anyone, and to also be careful not to get caught up with earthy material possessions. I imagine that every generation going back to as far as we know had humans that fell to their tendency to show off their possessions, especially if they were grander than the next guy, and act uppity because they had more than he did. Mark's message appears to be saying that richness is not necessarily the key. If you're responsible with securing yourself I see that as way different than getting caught up with having to always have the next big thing to outdo the Jones'.

And what then do we do with Paul who tells us that when he was a child he spoke as a child and thought as a child; but when he became a man he put away childish things?

Thanks B-Ball-fan for your thoughtful words. I do go over-the-top at times, but I try not to offend anybody along the way.

 

I agree with you about remaining childlike forever. I like to think of it as having a renewed relationship with Jesus because most every experience is new as a child.

 

I try to give whenever I can, but I always feel that I do not give enough. I have bills to pay like everybody else, yet I am in moderate debt while still having a better standard of living than 99% of the people on this planet.

And what then do we do with Paul who tells us that when he was a child he spoke as a child and thought as a child; but when he became a man he put away childish things?

 

Good point.

 

Paul is talking about love in this passage. My take is that Paul is comparing the time that it takes to build a concrete relationship.

 

Children are not patient. It is time to throw away the impatience of childhood.

 

My wife and I used this in our wedding.

 

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Very interesting stuff from Matt 18. In the context of the verse, Jesus is asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I think Jesus is sort of side stepping the initial question here, which led to deeper meaning. Considering the kingdom of heaven, it is somewhat backwards to want to be "the greatest" in the kingdom, and I think they are looking at it in a skewed, earthly way.

 

Jesus replies by saying that we need to humble ourselves like children. This makes a lot of sense in context, especially when you consider the nature of a good child. A good child is obedient, trusting, and well aware that the father has all of the power. To enter into the kingdom of heaven, we must be like children to our God. Trusting and obedient.

I think Mark 10:25 presents us with another interesting situation. A man approached Jesus and asked him what he needed to do to earn his inheritence of heaven. He goes down the list and indicates that he observes the commandments. This man was seemingly living a righteous life. However, Jesus then asks the man to sell everything and follow him. The man responds with sadness, and seemingly walks away dejected.

 

I think this story is really important in our understanding of faith. The man seemingly thought he was leading a pretty good life. However, the man was called to do something, and he resisted. It's that contant human struggle with God, where we want OUR will to be done, and not HIS will to be done.

 

Jesus then tells the apostles that it is easier for a camel to make it through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to make it into heaven. I think he is alluding to all of the temptations men have when they are well off. It is certainly very easy to live the wrong way, and forget about what is important in life when you're flush.

 

The apostles then seem a little confused, or scared in a way, because they say that nobody is worthy of heaven. Which is the truth. No human being is worthy of heaven, but by the grace of God alone we are saved.