FORSAKING CHILDISH WAYS

The popular 1 Corinthians 13 chapter of the New Testament is called ‘the love chapter’ because Paul, an apostle, lays out the beautiful qualities of love in verses 1-10.

Between the first ten verses and the last two about “seeing in a mirror dimly” (v.12) and “Now abide faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love” (v.13),
Paul adds verse 11: “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” 

To forsake childish ways is to forsake childish speaking, thinking and reasoning. If we are to grow and mature into spiritual adulthood and understand the strong maturity of love in verses 1-10 we will need to ‘forsake all childish ways’ or as the New American Standard says: ‘I did away with childish things.’ The Living Translation says: ‘But when I grew up, I put away childish things.’

Speaking the ‘love message’ of scripture without maturity makes it unbelievable, a sabotaged message that is a strong emotional Eros message. Without Holy Spirit power the love message is simply Hollywood, Disneyland and wedding ceremony fantasy. Wisdom would have us grow up strong in the Lord and power of His might, which is Love of a different kind.

Paul adds: “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:14-15)

“As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Jesus