Don’t Be Childish!
I Corinthians 14:20 (MSG)

Brethren, Be Not Children In Understanding

To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your childish thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility.

All of us have been children at one point. As 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV points out, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” There are some things that I said, did or thought as a child that I dare not do today. Jesus points to children as an example of the kind of faith, love, and trust for the Father that He wants to see in his disciples.

In 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul is referring to the ways of childhood as an immaturity to be left behind. Sometimes we act like children in our pettiness, our selfishness and our desires. There are some things that Christians should be naïve to, such as evil and immoral behavior. One of the greatest protections against evil is ignorance or naivety. In those things we should remain as children.

But as it relates to Kingdom building, there are degrees of understanding and godly living. As adults we should strive to have more spiritual fullness for service and unite our efforts in building up God’s kingdom. And, to do that we must desire more spiritual meat (the word of God). Christians must grow to fulfill the plan God has for his church and our lives. Continue to seek him through his word and desire a relationship with Him. The more you seek him, the more you practice and engage your faith, the more wisdom you gain, and the more you will understand as adults.

God, help me to grow in my understanding, so that what I say and do doesn’t come across as childish, Amen!

Devotional by: Sister Mae Martin