Let’s put away childish things.(1Cor13:8~13)

Let’s put away childish things.(1Cor13:8~13)

 

Intro)

 

After a year we all age and grow year older. Child grows their height, but adult grow their thoughts and wisdom. However, sometimes when child grows physically, but not intelligence parent starts to worry.

 

Growth in our lives can relate to asset or income. Something is fuller and new compare to last year, but if this goes backward it can bring stress.

 

Year passes fast like transportation, culture, and economy change daily. There is a saying Ten years will change the course of the river but seems like only takes 3 years to bring that much of change. To follow these rapid changes we must study.

 

Even church is changing with the world. pulpit of church was holy place that none can easily go up there, but now when there is an event people go up to pulpit not like old days. So, if there is a church keeps old custom like so people can feel stuffy for not following today’s trend.

 

Body)

Like today’s bible verse says ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. This shows our behaviors have to be different compare to young age when we are grown. If we still have childish thinking or behavior that will cause trouble. So, as an adult we should have mature thinking and wisdom and behavior that is appropriate to our age.

 

Reason why Paul said this to his church member was because to give them a lesson. Paul’s church was growing stably, but Paul knew there was a problem in their faith life. Problem was church was grown, but church members’ faith has not grown like a child.

 

 Corinthian church had internal conflict that people made few groups that took a side. In 1 Corinthians 1:12 says,

¹² Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”

Paul reproached loudly after hearing them fighting.

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Corinthian church’s internal conflict was pretty big. Some people file a lawsuit, marriage and divorce, how to do with idolatry etc. church started to have no order. Paul saw this and thought this is childish, so he decides to give them a lesson.

 

Sometimes it is necessary to take a look at our faith, if it is grown or if it is the same. Do you think you faith grows each year? Or it has been same since some point. Let’s look back and check your growth in faith.

 

What are the differences between adult and child? Child knows the part of it, but adult knows whole. Child’s logic is simple child only sees what is in front, like when parents get bread and child wants it he does not know that bread belongs to who and eats the bread or what will happen if he just eats the bread without asking. However, when child ages they can wait. Furthermore, adult eat less of bread that he wants to yield to child. If child knows that adult haven’t eaten the bread and leave portion of adult we can tell that child has grown.

 

Elementary student does not try to carry responsibility. When it snows, child just love what they see, but adult worry what will happen next due to snow. Adult’s concern with snow can be traffic, or for farmers it can be their crops or their elders to walk on the snow.

  

Adult can tell what is right and wrong. They know how to stay patient for rewards. Adult looks far ahead and can endure.

 

Even faith world there are people who are spiritually seen as children. If you been going to church for a long time, but still do not take responsibility as adult or only sees part of things we can tell that person’s faith growth remained as child.

 

 If then, what are our problems in faith? It can be being selfish, not able to show generosity or yield, often unable to see what is ahead in their future, praying daily is not comfortable; do not know the taste of sermon, no interest in reading or studying bible, and do not value worship.

 

Spiritually being child is like a child in family that cannot share bread and not being able to find what he can do as family member.

 

Paul says, ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

If you have been church for long you must grow your faith and put away childish things.

 

Today’s verse 8, 10 says, ⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

Bragging seemed childish to Paul and he said this will vanish.

Paul says their problem was  ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Mature faith about knowing fully not just in part.

 

 We have to see church’s future shortly 10years to 20years. To able to do this young adult has to rise and educate teenagers. Help them to wide their vision and grow interest in mission work and have dreams with prayers.

 

 Con)

 

What is mature faith? Knowing fully and seeing the future. Paul says mature faith is that faith with belief, hope, and love, but love is the best among them. What are these mean to you and how much do you think you have them? Paul mentioned love and wanted his people to have growth in their faith in love. Without love it is nothing. You need to carry God’s love, Jesus’ love, and Holy Spirit’s love. Today is fourth week as New Year. Let’s carry ourselves with maturity and work harder for church with belief, hope, and love. In this year let’s grow more and put away childish things.

 

 

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