Part 8: Luke 18:15–17

The greatest use of wisdom is to spend it on the development of a child.

Children need broad shoulders

My father would often take me to gather pecans at a cousin's house. First we picked up the pecans that had fallen from the tree onto the ground. Then I climbed onto my father's shoulders and threw a stick at the tree limbs to shake more nuts to the ground.

I remember coming home one day and telling my mother with great excitement, "Look how many pecans I got today." Before my mother could respond, my father said, "Yeah, but don't forget whose shoulders you were standing on."

My father's words did not mean much to me at the time. But after working with young people for most of my adult life, becoming a father and husband, and reflecting on my own childhood, it is clear to me now that many of us have made it on the shoulders of persons living a Christ-like life.

Jesus recognized that if children were to prosper in this world, they would need broad shoulders to stand on. They would need to be guided through times of confusion, doubt and struggle. When people brought infants to Jesus to be blessed, the disciples became annoyed and ordered the children to be taken away. But Jesus told them "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:16–17).

In this passage the disciples view the concerns of children as trivial. But Jesus uses children as examples of how to enter the kingdom of God: Just as children have complete trust in those who care for them, Jesus expects his followers to have complete trust in God. By creating a friendly, welcoming environment for children, Jesus must have made it easy for them to trust him and his teachings about God. We must do the same in our congregations.

Love, not violence
Increasing numbers of youngsters are not being raised in any religious institution. Thus, the ethics and morals of many of our young people are being shaped without spiritual foundations. One result is the violence that permeates today's youth culture.

Kids with limited spiritual influences sometimes turn to violence as a strategic mode of defense. Instead of responding to evil by loving their enemies, as Jesus' taught (Matthew 5:44), some youngsters view retaliation and vengeance as the first option for settling differences. To keep kids from turning to violence, we must assure them they are loved and teach love by modeling Christian behavior. In this way children will experience a moral and ethical environment in which teachings and actions are consistent.

Every moment in the life of a young person is a teachable moment. Leaders in the church should include children in making decisions that affect their lives, as well as teaching them the faith. Leaders must be constant advocates for young people, while preparing them for the world they must one day encounter as adults.

The disciples did not expect Jesus to be an advocate for children. Similarly, the actions of many church leaders today send the message, "For adults only." Their words imply that "only the paying members matter." Adults may claim great wisdom, without realizing that the greatest use of wisdom is to spend it on the development of a child.

Facing threats
Christian leaders are uniquely positioned to help today's children, many of whom face a multitude of life-threatening situations. For kids dealing with sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and difficult relationships with peers, the church can be a place where Christian values are made real. But adults must be willing to explore youth culture and become familiar with its trends, habits and language.

Remember the days of our youth? Yes, as painful as it may be to do so. We made mistakes and had "devilish thoughts." Our clothing styles and music were not acceptable to our parents. Yet someone nurtured us into adulthood.

Jesus honored the presence of children. Their presence reminds us of the trust required to become occupants of the kingdom of God.