Putting Away Childish Things

The Bible is what we can and should look to for understanding on every subject of our lives. Jesus is who we should strive to be like. Although we don’t have a lot of information about His childhood, we do have the account of when He was left behind in Jerusalem by His parents as it was written in Luke 2. They found Him teaching in the temple. That account shows us even at His young age Jesus was mature, intelligent, and found valuable and productive ways to spend His time. We should try to follow His example.

There is a passage in the Bible that says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I felt like a child, I thought like a child but now that I have become a man I have put away my childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). I agree with what Paul wrote that when a young person hits his teen years they should throw away their childish ways and start acting like a young adult. For me that means that very little if any time should be spent on video games or iPads or building Legos, but instead I should seek to find more productive activities that are appropriate to my age.

We Christians are given the task to be lights unto the world. What better way to do that than by helping out in your neighborhood, public school, or church? Not in a pride-seeking way, but humbly showing Christ’s love at every chance you get. There are so many ways to impact people and be good examples, not just to strangers and non-Christians, but to family, friends, and classmates. If a younger sibling sees their older sibling mowing the church yard or staying late after the service to clean up, it may inspire them to do the same.

Doing physical activities to bless someone is a very productive pastime and quite out of the norm today. It will catch people’s attention and is a great way to socialize. It is also something you can do with your friends. I would encourage readers of this article, the next time you have friends over, to consider helping out your neighbor or finding something spiritually productive to do. Use your strengths and gifts and the creation the Lord has blessed you with to bless others.