Christian Foundations

DEVOTIONAL ARCHIVE

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by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

The apostle Paul knew that kids will be kids, and as children we behave childishly. But he also pointed out that, as we grow up, we must set aside childish behavior and become more mature.

Children are by nature petty, hurtful and faultfinding in their relationships. They speak rashly, rudely and selfishly, with little concern for how their words will affect their parents and others.

Children think life revolves around them. They're self-righteous. They think they're always right and that others are at fault, even when the evidence declares them guilty. I'll never forget the time one of our daughters came to the table with chocolate on her face-clear evidence that she'd been into the cookie jar. Evidence or not, she insisted she was not guilty! Parents often face such tests in teaching their kids to tell the truth-to grow up in their abilities to be straightforward and honest.

We tell our kids, "It's time to grow up!"

And of course some of the unhappiest husband-wife relationships are those in which one or both haven't really grown up. They are still petty, hurtful and faultfinding. They still speak rashly and rudely, with little regard for how their words may hurt each other. They still think life revolves around them, and have trouble taking responsibility for their actions and choices, and admitting it when they are wrong. They blame, ridicule and find ways to get back at their spouses.

They speak, think and reason as children.

It dawned on me one day, in the middle of an argument with Barbara, that it was time I grew up. That I stopped acting like the kids. And you know what? I realized if I was going to be a man, I couldn't act like a child. And so, just like Paul said, I put away childish things.

Prayer:

"Lord God, help me be a man and put away childish words, attitudes and actions. May your Holy Spirit empower me this day. Amen."

Discuss: Think of any tense times you've had with your mate recently. Can you detect in your own attitude any of the above descriptions of childishness? What steps can you take to help your own children mature?

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