CHILD'S PLAY:

A Compelling Contrast--Childish VS Childlike

It may appear that for adults to get down on the floor to play a game, or join in with kids to play their version of made-up physical games makes grown-ups look silly and childish, when in reality it’s a positive thing and more aligned with childlikeness and emotional maturity then the immaturity it appears to be to some. Furthermore, this boldness to put children first demonstrates to all, a confidence in knowing who we are in Christ

Childishness is the propensity to remain in immaturity; stifled in growth, thereby, prone to self-centeredness and a lagging desire to put others first, or even consider their needs at all. It is not a desirable condition in which to abide. And, who wants to be around adults who explode in selfish outbursts and make unreasonable demands on those around them? A childish adult has trouble maintaining respect among family, friends, colleagues and may even have trouble respecting themselves. Someone abiding in this countenance is stagnating in their walk with God, or ignoring Him all together. Those who are actively engaging with the Lord and His Spirit, grow spiritually one little step at a time, for He takes us from glory to glory—

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Corinthians 3:18)

However, childlikeness is very different. It refers to abiding in a childlike spirit even as a grown-up. Someone who is childlike abides in a state of joy and excitement. That person has a zest for life that’s hard to hide; someone who uses their imagination often and freely, who isn’t afraid to let their hair down, so to speak, and just have fun. Someone who knows that getting on a child’s level isn’t a sign of immaturity, but of someone who has been enabled by the Lord to maintain the joy and excitement of their own childhood, and are not ashamed to play with the children in his/her life, (which is a loving, unselfish gesture that any and every child can benefit from.

Grown people who maintain their childlikeness do not shy away from playing with and relating to their kids on their level, not expecting the child to rise to their adult level, but truly knowing how to have fun with the youth in their lives. Another aspect of childlikeness is that, like a child, we come to the Lord in all humility and trust.

Someone who is childlike doesn’t question what they are told, they just obey. Of course for grown-ups this can be problematic, but only if that person refuses to think for themselves or lives naively in blind trust of others to lead them by the hand, that is foolishness. But with the Lord, we who know Him know that He alone is worthy of that kind of blind trust.

The Bible tells us that we must come to the Throne of God like a little child. This is because when a child starts getting to a certain age and maturity level, it is normal and healthy and simply part of his/her development to begin questioning the varying rationales they’ve been taught. But, it’s that time period before they become aware and begin questioning adults that Jesus is referring to in this verse, when the ideals and precepts of the Lord are not brought into question, so that complete and utter trust in the LORD can flourish and thrive no matter the age of that individual, just as a little child looks to his/her parents in complete unquestionable trust—

“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:2-5)

But much to the contrary, abiding in childishness is not a desirable quality for any adult, (and barely for a child, but they get an appropriated pass!):

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1Corinthians 13:11)

Childishness is abiding in the immaturity of a child, that is only natural for a child, while childlikeness is maintaining the excitement of life while abiding in trust and dependency in the LORD like a little child. For those non-believers who manage to remain childlike, perhaps they are those Johnny-come-lately believers…..

And, even though our salvation does not hinge on continuing in spiritual growth (see Galatians 5:22-24), truly behaving like a grown-up is prodigiously advisable, as spiritual growth is beneficial, and considering all the stress that acting out causes, and the strain on the body, truly growing in maturity will spare us a countless number of gray hairs and wrinkles, for we will enjoy better health, (generally speaking anyway!)

And isn’t it interesting that these two differing traits are rarely seen co-habituating in the same individual? That’s because someone who can sit down and play with children, without shame is truly a person who is growing in maturity, not stagnating, not insisting in their own way. Said person is, subsequently, far less prone to emotional outbursts, and other immature behaviors.

Moreover, adults who are able and not ashamed to get down on a child’s level are in touch with their own inner child, and thereby, are more readily able to come to God as a little child, as the Bible teaches.

For children, trusting in adults is as natural as breathing, but when we grow up, we tend to depend on our own logic and follow our own plans and agendas. Without blind, childlike trust in God, even believers can live in the error of trusting self over Him. It takes a certain degree of childlike wonder to continue looking up to Jesus as our Perfect Example, instead of leaning on our emotions and preconceived ideas.

NKJV