Pastor’s Corner Simplify life

— I’ve mentioned before we can learn a lot from children in the early part of their lives. Mainly because until the world (that’s each of us so-called wise ones) teach them differently, they have a simpleness in almost every aspect of their lives - their faith, trust and dependence goes without saying. If a dad, mom or grandparents say it’s so, then no question, that’s the way it is no matter what anyone else thinks or says.

As long as the adults involved in a child’s life gives the child no reason to question their wisdom (by filling them with our prejudices and opinions that are often contrary to the truth, for instance) the child will continue to respect and follow the advice of the respected adult even through the “rebellious” years and very often in stark contrast to what the child’s contemporaries are doing. In many ways these children can be examples for us “world weary” adults of how we should be with our heavenly Father in trust, faith and dependence.

I’ve also come to see we can learn a lot even from children as they grow, even those who take a direction that we might not agree with. In fact, if we will be honest with ourselves we can find they can be a great “revealer” of our own character; a mirror to our soul if you will. I will explain.

I was recently present when some children (all cousins of various ages) were being told how much money they had earned doing some work for their mother (and the cousin’s aunt). It was - interesting.

I was dumbfounded as first one and then another began to complain they weren’t getting paidenough - it wasn’t fair, so and so was getting paid more than they were and so on. I was a bit upset at their attitudes and I began to explain to them how fortunate they were to be able to earn anything at all, it was up to the one who “hired” them to determine how much each should be paid and their “wages” were age and ability appropriate.

As I was about to launch into a full scale teaching session picking up a New Testament that I always carry to talk about the parable of those who hired out for a penny, the Spirit brought me up short so Istopped and changed the subject - I began to think about why were they reacting the way they were, and didn’t like what I was discovering.

They were mirroring the attitude of an unthankful society, a society not satisfied with anything they have, and even if is given to them for nothing it’s still not enough. Can we expect our children to exhibit any behavior except what they learn from us?

I have observed a truth found even in my own family: “Children will do in excess the evil parents allow in moderation.” What does this mean? It means every time we “wink” at, or excuse a transgression in our own lives, our children see and believe since those whom they have faith, trust and depend on think it’s alright, they can wholeheartedly do likewise.

This makes it imperative that we who are to be good role models be good role models - bringing into subjection to Christ our own tendencies to give in to our prejudices and follow our own desires rather than obey what the Bible teaches, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

How can we expect others to behave in ways that we, who are supposed to be their example, won’t?

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Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church.

To contact him, write in care of The Times at prtnews@ nwanews.com or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.

Church, Pages 2 on 06/30/2010