1 Cor. 13:11-13 (NKJV)
Have you ever heard the expression, “Oh Grow Up!”? Some of you have not only heard the expression, but you’ve also used it yourself. It is closely tied with the expression, “Quit acting like a baby!”.
We usually use those expressions when someone as an adult, is not behaving in the ways that an adult should behave. The expression is used to try to get the person to think about how they are acting and to start acting their age.
In 1 Cor. 13:11-13, the apostle Paul makes a statement about how he put away childish behavior when he became a man. It’s almost like Paul is telling us today from God’s word to “Grow Up!” and act like a man.
Let’s read the scriptures in 1 Cor. 13:11-13 and then see what childish behavior is like and what we should be as men or adults.
Childish behavior is like this:
- A child cries easily and a lot.
A child cries not only when they are hurt physically, but also when getting the least upset about something. This is where you might say of an adult that is upset about a small thing, “Quit your whining!”. - A child craves attention and recognition.
Have you ever heard a child say, “Hey everybody, look at me!”. If necessary, they will continue to say it louder, until everyone looks at them. An adult that keeps bringing up something about themselves is acting in this behavior. - A child is not very grateful.
A child just expects that things should be given to them. They take it and you have to ask them, “What should you say?”. When an adult expects that they should be given what they want, they are behaving without gratitude. - A child is not very responsible.
Among children, it is very common to hear these words, “Do I have too?” They want someone else to take responsibility. Even after becoming an adult, many people have this same attitude. - A child is selfish.
It’s very common to hear children say, “I had it first!” or “That’s mine!”. An adult age person is showing this same type of attitude when they always want their way instead of thinking of others. - A child is messy.
A child is always making a mess and rarely ever wants to clean up their mess. An infant poops on their self and then expects an adult to clean them up. Some adults live their lives always expecting someone else to clean up their mess.
In 1 Cor. 13, the apostle Paul talked about becoming a man. Here are 5 areas that men or adults need to demonstrate that they have become mature spiritually and put away childish things. Things that are my prayer for every man and woman:
- Personal relationship with the Lord.
The beginning of becoming mature spiritually is when you demonstrate that you have a personal relationship with the Lord and are communicating with Him on a daily basis. - Purity in your lifestyle.
You remove anything from your life that is keeping you from living a pure life according to God’s word. All areas of exceptions or things done in secret and living in purity. Things like pornography have no place in your life. - Passion for serving God.
Serving God is not a drudgery, but it’s a privilege that we should put our whole heart into. - Purpose for your life.
God has a purpose for everyone’s life. Find that purpose and you experience the greatest joy. - Power in prayer.
You can only have power in prayer when you spend time in prayer.
Are there some childish things in your life that you need to put away and become the man or woman that God wants you to be?
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