5 “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
To be sure, the age of childhood is the age of learning – the time of training. It is the golden opportunity for teaching Truth and for leading and guiding these young ones by our conversation as well as by our example towards God’s Word and ways. This statement from our Lord Jesus should be a red flag to all regarding the treatment of our precious young ones. True, they are innocent and vulnerable yet they are also born broken – each with a sinful nature - and in dire need of being taught and directed. It is not necessary to teach little ones to demand their own way or to lie or to be selfish – that comes natural for them. We are to train them in God’s ways of Truth, righteousness, selflessness, kindness, goodness, gentleness and peace through continuous direction and discipline – things which do not come natural. Those left unattended to go their own way more often than not suffer greatly. Many a pitfall could be avoided in a child’s life with a proper upbringing. Proverbs tells us:
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Prov 22:6 (NIV)
Those with small children in their spheres are to use each opportunity presented to train a child’s conduct away from evil and point them towards Christ-likeness – the proper path, the path of the wise, the path of peace. Scripture tells us the way of wisdom is far better than riches. It is to be sought at all costs. Again, we discover in Proverbs the result of gaining wisdom is a life marked by tranquility and confidence:
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. Prov 3:13-18 (NIV)
5 “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Prov 4:5-9 (NIV)
One of the most important passages of Scripture for the Hebrew is the Shema found in Deuteronomy. It speaks of training our children throughout each day – making the most of every opportunity:
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:4-9 (NIV)
In our verses for today we see our Lord’s reaction to those who cause “these little ones who believe in me to sin.” He does not look too favorably upon it - to say the least. Interestingly, we can sin in this way either through omission by failing to follow through on Truth commanded in Scripture such as shown through the passage in Deuteronomy above – leaving these young ones floundering by neglecting our opportunities presented or we can sin through commission by teaching and leading them into evil – down destructive paths in lieu of paths of righteousness. Most of us fall into the first category through the tyranny of the urgent of our day. We are so busy doing life we miss it. We neglect our God given responsibilities. It would do us well to remember that Jesus takes these opportunities presented to us very seriously. He does not look lightly upon our disregarding His commands and neither should we.
“The majority of children acquire the characteristics and habits of their parents. What are they learning from us?” Billy Graham