1 Corinthians
13:11 “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.”
I heard
these lyrics in a song on the radio lately: “Never gonna grow up. Never gonna
slow down”. It brings to mind discussions that I’ve been having and hearing on the irresponsible attitude that Pastor JJ calls “Perpetual
adolescence”. A egocentric outlook of radical pleasure being the chief end of
life and the proper goal of human endeavor. Fun is a part of life, but not life.
Think about all of the people in the world in poverty without proper food,
water, sanitation, shelter or clothing, trying to survive today. What about
people that lose everything to natural disasters, like floods, fires, tornados,
earthquakes, and hurricanes? What about those who lose loved ones to disease,
tragic accidents or even natural causes? What about the stress of unending bills,
the job, the car, the house, and the family? Real life flies in the face of
selfish hedonism. We must keep the main thing, the main thing and quit majoring
on the minors. Chasing the wind of the exciting thrill will never lead to
contentment and satisfaction in life. This is the journey, not the destination.
Life is not about “good” times, but about being a “godly”
person, a “good” neighbor and excellent steward of God’s gifts. There is a time to be
young, where someone is responsible for you, but there is a time to grow up and
be responsible. We need mature adults with a balanced life perspective aligned with God's will, not
permanent babies. Why on earth are we here?
Ecclesiastes
3:1 & 9-13 “There
is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the
heavens. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on
the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its
time. He has also set eternity in the human
heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for
people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of
God."
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
Paul tells us to be mature, to grow up and Jesus says we need to be like little children to enter.
I guess we enter with childlike trust and wonder and then grow into spiritual maturity.
That's a great point Ma! Babies are cute, but if they never grows physically, everyone knows that there is something serious wrong. And that is true for mentally and spiritually also. We all start as youngsters with multiple sources and resources of gaining experience, knowledge and wisdom as we mature in our thinking and actions. We have parents, schools with teachers, books - computers - audio & video tapes, daily life experiences and the Holy Spirit"s guidance. The more we live, the more that we learn & know naturally by living. I love your thought for us that we enter with childlike trust and wonder of our Lord. Its the start, and who we are, and where we live and grow to maturity. That is where the love, joy and peace flow from. Thank you for your excellent remarks.
Hi Brian,
As soon as I started reading I thought of Ecclesiastes 3...There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens:
If life was all about fun I believe we would all starve in no time at all.
Blessings,
<><
Child of God, I am reminded of the proverb that Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth wrote in 1825: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy." What is the chief end of mankind? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. This is the foundation that we properly build our balanced lives upon. Joy is a "fruit" of the Spirit, that grows on a healthy branch attached to the solid trunk of the tree. That trunk is Jesus Christ rooted in God's provision & providence for His Creation. Our growth and maturity, including our accountability, responsibility, in balanced work and play stem from that relationship as a Child of God. Anything else is an deception and distraction that can never be filled. Thank you for writing.
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