Learning to be a Child of God

Why is it that we always measure everything by who's the best? Who's the richest? Who's the most popular? Who's the highest ranking? Or who's the most powerful? My dad is bigger than your dad. Every year we have lists and competitions and contests to determine these things. The Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA playoffs, the Forbes list of the richest Americans, the Nobel Prizes, the SAT scores, the Nielsen ratings, the Olympics, the World Cup, Survivor, the Australian Football League Grand Final, and presidential elections. A recent study showed that when given the opportunity, we will spend considerable amounts of energy and worth just to push the other guy down. The study was conducted by two economists out of the UK, Andrew Osweck of Warwick University and Daniel Dizzo of Oxford. They found that when a group of people gamble a sum of money against random numbers and can see how their competitors are doing, if given the choice, they will spend up to 25 cents of each dollar they win in order to burn up a dollar of their competitors' money. Their conclusion? Sad to say there is more energy in the world than altruism. In a recent study, Dizzo and Osweck asked, are people willing to pay to reduce others' incomes? The short answer to this question is yes. Our subjects gave up large amounts of their cash to hurt others in the laboratory tests. Dizzo and Osweck set up an experiment in which groups of four subjects were initially given nearly equal amounts of money. They then played a computerized gambling game. During the game, two of the players received an extra endowment of cash, a fact to which all the other players were alerted. At the conclusion of the gambling sessions, each player was given the chance to spend his own money to anonymously burn some of the cash of the others. It was made clear that there was no prospect that burning his fellow players' winnings would in any way make him richer. There was no benefit for him in this. In fact, if he chose to burn another player's money, he had to pay between 2 cents and 25 cents for each dollar subtracted from the other player's take. Dizzo and Osweck found that nearly two-thirds of players happily paid for the privilege of impoverishing their fellow participants. Even as the price of burning went up, the percentage of people who chose to burn other players did not fall substantially. The poorest players chose to burn more of the winnings of the wealthiest. But big winners also burned other players, in their case indiscriminately. The researchers speculate that winners may have chosen to burn others as a way of maintaining their rank. They wanted to be first, more than they wanted to maximize their own cash. Gold medal winner of the 1500-meter speed skating event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Apollo Anton Ono, said, I always believed that I could be number one in the world, and being number one right now, I've got a bullseye on my back. See, the problem with being number one is that there's always a number two waiting to knock you off. A news director once said to complaining reporters, go ahead and complain. If you don't like your job, I've got a stack of resume teams in my office, people who'd love to take your place. And don't think that wanting to be number one started recently. Jesus' disciples had the same itch to be looked at as the best as humanity today, as you and I. How does all this relate to you and me on this Sabbath, during which we had the blessing of the little children, the blessing of the little child?

This is going to be our subject for today, learning to be a child of God, learning to be a child of God. Jesus Christ, of course, is the undisputed best at everything. And yet, He never aspired to what we would call greatness. And He put a pin in the swelling balloon of pride in His disciples. And of course, He can in us as well. Let's turn to Matthew 18, verse 1 and read. Matthew 18, verse 1. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Now, on the surface, it might seem like a good question.

The word greatest here comes from the Greek word megabite, like megabyte. It means larger or greater. And throughout the Bible, we read that we can be part of a very powerful kingdom. No doubt about it. We can be a part of the kingdom of God, the most powerful kingdom that exists. That's pretty petty stuff. It would be like someone telling you that citizenship in heaven makes you more powerful than the President of the United States. Wow! Me? Important and powerful?

So, as often happens with alpha males, the members of the pack start to vie with each other. Hey, if we're that powerful, then who among us is the most powerful?

We always judge our worth by who we are better than, don't we? And it doesn't stop necessarily when we become Christians. Whose church is bigger? Who reads the Bible more? Who has the best pastor? Who prays more fervently? And who went to the best feast site?

Who went to the biggest feast site? And women don't think you're immune either. A recent study found that women in the workplace often purposefully undermine and secretly sabotage each other to get ahead. So you can picture being stabbed in the back with a secretary's letter opener on your way to the water cooler. Now, another time when the disciples were catfighting each other, Jesus answered their question about who was the greatest by using the analogy of a servant.

Remember that? The servant is the greatest. But this time, as we're reading in Matthew 18, he's going to turn the idea of power on its head. See, a servant knows his place in the household. He's the least. And as Jesus' kingdom has many facets, so do two the citizens of his kingdom.

Now, imagine the scene, Matthew 18 here. The disciples are pumped up. They can be part of the most powerful kingdom there is. And now they want to know, sure, but who's going to be the most powerful? They think, we're going to learn the secret of how to be the greatest. Get out your Palm Pilot. Get out your laptop. Get out your PDA. Start taking notes, man!

But instead of pulling out a PowerPoint presentation on the top ten tips to being the greatest, what does Christ do? He pulls out a child from the crowd. The disciples are ready for the top ten tips, how they could be the greatest. And Christ pulls a child out of the audience. Matthew 18, verse 2 now. And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them.

The child brought forward by Jesus is probably a young boy or a girl, not a baby, not a teenager. Okay, the disciples think. We're supposed to treat others like children in comparison to us. They're weak and small and insignificant, and we're big and powerful and great. Just the answer they were looking for. No, not quite. Here's a personal story that does not necessarily depict me in the most favorable light.

But have you ever played the classic board game Scrabble? With your wife or family, perhaps? Not long after we were married, Terry and I played Scrabble once in a while. We used to play it with our boys, too, when they were young. I came to find out that Terry didn't enjoy playing Scrabble with me all that much, because I often took the easy route to make lots of points, like just putting an S on the end of a big long word that was already there.

She figured this wasn't playing fair, and she wasn't happy if I won the game as a result. Of course, I was quite proud to win under such questionable circumstances, just as long as I beat her score. Right? And I can tell you this now because we haven't played Scrabble in a while. I'm not sure why, but...

But does this seem like a strange story to you? Probably not. Have you, too, found yourself comparing your relative greatness with someone else? Do you always try to get yourself to the top of the game pile? By the way, this sermon today, the topic was Terry's idea. She said, isn't it the day of the blessing of little children? Matthew 18, 1-14. But we're not alone. Jesus' disciples engaged in an argument as to who would be the greater in the kingdom of heaven, as we read in verse 1.

How full of pride they must have been to argue that point. But then we quickly remember our gaming techniques, don't we? We all struggle with pride. If we don't voice it like the disciples, we might say to ourselves, if only everyone worked as hard as me. Or if only everyone helped out at church like I do.

See, the disciples were not alone in this. Look at verses 3-4 now. And so then Christ said, Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you'll by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Of course, converted means to change or turn. Verse 4, Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What? I'm sure by now the disciples are starting to get the point.

Probably getting a sinking feeling in their stomach. We blew it again. That's not what he was looking for. It's interesting that Jesus didn't rebuke the disciples at this point. He didn't say, You fool with disciples. Why are you so full of pride? In fact, Jesus didn't even indicate that he was surprised as I asked the question. It's human nature. Instead, Jesus calls a child to himself and says, Truly I say to you, unless you change, become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

When I was about 12 years old, I loved to play Monopoly with my three sisters. I was the eldest. Still am. See, I almost got into the top of the pile, but anyway. However, I came to realize that they didn't really like playing the game with me all that much after a while. I was a shrewd real estate broker who always managed to capture the most prized pieces of land on the board.

And as I exacted rent from each of them as they landed on my property, I built up my Monopoly empire. Buying houses and hotels as quickly as possible so that I could crush the opposition. Eventually, they'd have no money left, so I'd buy up their foreclosed, heavily mortgaged properties, giving them what little cash they were entitled to. And eventually, they would all, one by one, have to turn over older assets to me until I was the king of the whole playing board. Merciless and exacting tribute from them, I was by far the best Monopoly player our family had seen. And every time my sisters played it with me, they found it out once again.

I ruled the game. I could quite easily lose a little bit of my money if I knew it would bring them down. Just like we heard at the beginning with the scientific study. It's true.

However, after three or four games like this over the course of a year, I began to find it harder and harder to find playing companions. Only two of them would play with me out of the three. And then only one. But I still had to win at all costs. Finally, I had to make up my own teams and play against myself.

Have you ever done that? I had risen to the top of the empire, but it wasn't really all that glorious. So if being number one isn't the way to go, then what is it? It's becoming like a child. A person who wants to be number one wants power and recognition. A child simply wants love and protection more than anything else.

The two goals are mutually exclusive. And often when they meet, climbing to number one means you're climbing over someone else. I must become more, so you must become less. Remember what John the Baptist said? John the Baptist said, I must decrease so that Christ can become greater. So what we're talking about here today is the opposite. I must become more, so you must become less. No, you've got to be converted. And converted here means to twist or to change.

The idea is you're going down a road, and suddenly you turn or twist around and start going the other way. The word is meant to convey the idea that a radical change is involved. When you think of it, becoming like a child is a radical change. We must truly shed worldly ambition and worldly lust for power. That's the point. What he's saying is that the direction we're headed, which is when it all costs, compare yourselves among yourselves, more is better, is all wrong.

Why? Well, essentially, that attitude can be summed up in one letter, I. The attitude of I is very old and started with Lucifer himself. Let's turn to Isaiah 14 for a moment and read a few verses here. Isaiah 14, read verses 12 through 15. But notice the I's here. Isaiah 14 verse 12. How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the morning.

How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart, I will offend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the Mount of the Congregation on the further sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be the Most High. Verse 15. You shall be brought down to Sheol, to the grave, to the lowest depth of the pit. See, this attitude of I will ascend comes down to us since the Garden of Eden, too, doesn't it?

As far as humanity is concerned. Satan promised Eve that she would be like God. She took the bait. And so do we when we strive to be the greatest. We take the bait. The ultimate goal of being on top of the wood pile is eventually being on top of the throne in heaven. That's where it leads. That's where it led with Lucifer. So here's what happens if we continue down that road. Galatians 6, verses 7 through 9. Galatians 6, verses 7 through 9. Do not be deceived.

God is not mocked for whatever a man sows that he will also reap. Now notice verse 8. Galatians 6, verse 8. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. As the NIV says, will reap destruction. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting or eternal life. So you've got death on one hand and destruction, and on the other hand you've got eternal, everlasting life. They're quite opposite depending on whether you sow to the flesh or sow to the spirit.

And verse 9. Let us not grow weary while doing good for induced season. We shall reap if we do not lose heart. So there is hope. The promise is there so we don't lose heart. And of course we choose to sow to the spirit and reap everlasting life. Destruction, there in verse 8, means to decay or spoil. Basically the things you do to please the sinful nature, the I'm the most important person in the world attitude, not only won't last, it will decay your life. Like exposing metal to moisture. It rusts. And the more moisture you apply, the more that rust eats away the metal until it falls apart.

We think we're going to the top when we try to be the greatest as far as our worldly lust is concerned. But in reality, we're setting ourselves up for a fall to the bottom as far as God is concerned. So basically there's a fight going on in each of us between two mutually exclusive elements, sowing to the flesh or sowing to the spirit. There's another similar account to Isaiah 14 about Lucifer in Ezekiel chapter 28. Let's turn there for a moment.

I want to show you something. Ezekiel 28. However, I'd like to begin in some earlier verses that we don't often read. These verses talk about the Prince of Tyre, who was a human copy of the King of Tyre, Satan. We often read the verses about the King. Let's read some of the verses about the Prince. These first ten verses of Ezekiel 28 show the fate of those who will climb to the very top at all costs.

And this is not the attitude and heart of a trusting, dependent, innocent child, as you'll see. In Ezekiel 28 verse 1, the word of the Lord came to me again saying, Son of man, say to the Prince of Tyre, thus says the Lord God, because your heart is lifted up and you say, I am a God, I sit in the seat of the gods in the midst of the seas, yet you are a man and not a God. So you set your heart as the heart of a God.

Verse 6, Therefore thus says the Lord God, because you have set your heart as the heart of a God, behold therefore I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations, they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall throw you down into the pit and you shall die the death of the slain in the midst of the seas.

Verse 9, Will you still say before him who slays you, I am a God? But you shall be a man and not a God in the hand of him who slays you. You're going to suddenly realize your own mortality when you die. Verse 10, You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of aliens, by a spoken, says the Lord God. So this is ultimately the fate of those who want to climb to the top at all costs. Death. The Expositor's Bible commentary comments on this passage, and it says, Tyre's king is described as a very wise man.

Through his wisdom and insight in commercial sea trade, he was able to amass Tyre's great abundance of wealth. However, the accumulation of riches and its accompanying splendor and importance created a haughty pride in this ruler. He was so impressed with himself that he actually began to think that he was the God.

Perhaps even El, the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon. Ancient Near Eastern thought often viewed the king as the embodiment of the gods. He was sitting on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas. And the commentary continues, most likely Tyre's well-known magnificent temple of Melkart, Tyre's patron deity, was in the prophet's mind. It was not uncommon for a city or a temple to be called the throne of a god, even in the Old Testament.

On ancient vast reliefs of Tyre, the city and its temple are seen projecting high out of the surrounding area. So this is the kind of thinking that will most likely characterize the ruler of Tyre, and even end-time Tyre or Babylon. A powerful dictator comes on the theme, in the end-time as well, referred to as the beast, who set himself up as the god. This is a parallel to what we're reading here. Now, clearly, this ruler of Tyre is not as wise as he thinks he is. He sees himself as a god when, in fact, he's just a mere mortal man. He's deluded, a man who will be humbled for his supreme arrogance by the true god.

As it says, strangers will invade and devastate his land, and he will die at the hands of aliens or foreigners. And it's applied to the ruler of ancient times. But it is also the fate of the end-time beast ruler, as we can read in other passages. The beast's European empire will be devastated by a ruthless wave of invasion from the east, and he himself will be slain in the ultimate alien invasion, which, of course, will be Jesus Christ and the saints. Of course, we're seeing as strangers and foreigners today in this land, who are aliens in mankind's society. And yet the future prince of Tyre will be slain by foreigners, by aliens.

Of course, as we know by Jesus Christ, the end-time. But then the following verses here talk about the king of Tyre, the one who led the way for this evil prince. And it is the dragon of old from the Garden of Eden who tried to take God's throne himself. This is the one from Isaiah 14 who said, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will offend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high.

And so God tells Ezekiel to take up the lamentation for this king of Tyre, here in verses 11 through 19. Though a large number of scholars argue that the poetic imagery of this passage merely emphasizes the dreadful downfall of the Tyrian king, the Bible reader's companion states that many take the shift from ruler to king to indicate, or from prince to king, indicate a shift of prophetic focus from a literal human ruler to the being he typifies, Satan.

Of course, as you know, we teach today that this king of Tyre represents Satan, the fallen Lucifer. We'll read here for a moment, verses 11 through 19. Follow along with me as you get the sense of who's behind the throne of the prince as we read about the king now. Verse 11, moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God, You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in the Garden of Eden, the Garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering.

The sardius, topaz, and diamond, the barrel onyx and jasper, sapphire turquoise and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed carob who covers. This doesn't sound like a human king, does it? I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created till a nikiri was found in you.

Verse 16, by the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned. Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O covering carob, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground. I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you.

Verse 18, you defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading. Therefore I brought fire from your midst. It devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth and the sight of all who saw you, all who knew you among the people that are astonished at you. You have become a horror, and shall be no more forever. This king of Tyre does portray human leadership, but its spiritual parallel also refers to the devil. If you note these points from the Bible Reader's companion, which points out that this is more than just a human king being referred to here. Firstly, they say the description, model of perfection, and blameless from the day they are created you, seems an inappropriate description for any human ruler.

Secondly, Eden, the Garden of God, is described as a gem-filled center of earthly rule, and is taken as the province of Satan before Adam's creation. Thirdly, a guardian cherub, or anointed cherub who covers, again, is hardly an appropriate description of a pagan king, but it would fit Satan's pre-fall role as an important angelic being. The Bible Reader's companion continues, fourthly, till wickedness was found in you, seems to indicate a specific act of sin which corrupted the being described.

And then, fifthly, I expelled you, I threw you to the earth, seems to fit Christ's own words about Satan's expulsion from heaven, as recorded in Luke 10, verse 18. And they conclude, while these same verses admit metaphorical and poetic interpretation references to the human rulers of Tyre, those who see Satan in this passage believe they are more appropriately rooted to him. See, Satan, then, is the real power behind the throne of both ancient and future Tyre. Ezekiel 28 is parallel to Isaiah 14. Isaiah 14 addresses the human ruler of Babylon, both ancient and future, as well as the ultimate spirit ruler of Babylon, Satan.

So these two chapters of these two books talk about Tyre and Babylon signifying in duality an end-time evil empire, as well as historical, with Satan the devil behind them. The supreme arrogance and blasphemy of the human ruler of both ancient and end-time Tyre ultimately comes from Satan, whom we know as the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world. See, there's a fight going on between two mutually exclusive elements. It's a conflict. Let's turn to Galatians 5, verse 17.

You see what we're called to here. This is our calling. Galatians 5, verse 13. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, freedom. Only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Interesting that we're told to serve one another. That's the loving thing to do. Not climb to the top of the pyramid as fast as you can. No, serve one another. Verse 14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word. Even in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There's a caring, concerned spirit here. Verse 15. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another. I say then, verse 16, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another. Or as one translation says, these are in conflict with one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. To these are opposites. Loving, caring, and concerned for someone is the opposite of trying to be top dog. They're in conflict with one another, as verse 17 says. We're not always aware of it, but this conflict is going on in our hearts and minds more often than we might realize. The more we are led by God's Holy Spirit, the less influence the human fleshly nature will have upon us, and the more influence Christ will exert in our lives. And the word conflict literally means to lie opposite.

It is also translated as adversary or opposed. These things are opposed with one another. No matter what the world tells you, the flesh and the spirit cannot have the same goal. Let's go back to Matthew 18 again in our Bibles. Matthew 18. How are we to become like children? Jesus says that whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. We are to become like children by humbling ourselves like a child. And this is the opposite spirit to the God of this world. This is the opposite to what we read about the Prince of Tyre and the King of Tyre.

Now, there are two ways of understanding this humbling of ourselves, being humble like a little child. The first interpretation is that we are to endeavor to obtain the humble nature that a child possesses.

The problem with this interpretation, however, is that I have not yet met a parent who would argue that their children are by nature humble. A young child does not understand that there is a world outside of itself until it matures and grows. A tiny baby only knows its own little world, and when it's hungry, it cries. When it wants to be picked up, it cries. But as it gets older, it starts to realize that there's a little more going on around here than itself. It starts to find out that some toys belong to other kids. You see what I'm getting at? We're talking about the humility of a child. Children are not inherently humble. They're inherently selfish. And as you learn and grow mature, you start to think about other people. That's true emotional maturity. It's thinking of others, not just yourself. And the second way to read humbling of ourselves is the more likely interpretation. To humble ourselves as children is to accept an inferior status.

Children, who perhaps not humble by nature, readily accept their inferior status. They know they're just kids. They know they can't do it all. And when we say inferior, we don't mean to say they are less valuable. They are inferior in that children are dependent on something bigger than themselves to survive.

And we all know this to be true. That is why children are never left home alone until they're like 11 or 12 years old. They need to be told when to wake up, when to go to bed, when to eat, when to brush their teeth, when to wash their hands, when to do their homework. It would never happen.

Young children require constant guidance and supervision. At times they may resent this supervision. But at the end of the day, they understand their need to cooperate. On an everyday basis, children accept their status as dependent individuals. So when Jesus tells us that we must become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven, what is he saying? He's saying we must accept an inferior status, a status as human beings who must depend on God, not on ourselves. Become like a child. To walk closely with God requires that we strip off our independent exterior and depend on God like a newborn depends on its mother.

Now, this might sound unappealing to some people, but let's return again to the last half of verse 4. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So you want to be the greatest? This is the way to do it. Who doesn't aspire for greatness? Now, we're not talking about fame and fortune here, though, are we? I think it's safe to say we all would favor a good reputation as a Christian, as a godly person. What is the key to godliness? What is the key to greatness in the kingdom of God? The key is becoming like a dependent child. Now, it's important to clarify here, when you think about this, that the example of a dependent child is more than just an analogy. The text isn't simply stating that we should depend on God like a young child depends upon its mother.

We are called to depend on God in the same way our children depend on God. Our model for faith in God is our young children. Children have a simple faith and dependence and belief in God. Just teach the Sabbath school lessons once in a while. Kids just have a simple faith and trust in God. We are to become like that as well. Verse 5 here, Matthew 18 verse 5, Whoever receives or welcomes one little child like this in my name receives me. Don't push them away like the disciples did. You welcome the children. You receive the children. Now, is Jesus just talking about being nice to kids? You come into the church and you pat the kids on the back and be nice to them?

Not necessarily. Christ says, a child like this. It's all about those who have changed their attitude from being number one to being like a child. Children know they're not number one as they grow mature. They realize they're dependent on society around them for survival, upon their family. It's all about those who have changed their attitude of trying to be number one, to having the attitude and humility of a child. So here's what can happen. After we're baptized and converted, the attitudes of the world creep back in. Those that have faith and trust in God like a child become vulnerable to those who have slipped back into the climbing to the top attitude. It's easy to get caught up in that again. The word means to accept by deliberate and ready reception what is offered. Your children have a simple faith in God.

The idea in general is to make a special point to accept those who put simple faith and trust in God, like a child has trust for his or her parents, who realizes that they are dependent on something more powerful than they. Think of the biblical account of David and Goliath. Remember that David was not yet a strong, fully grown man, but a young boy or a teenager. The story goes, as you might remember, with a giant Goliath issuing a challenge to the people of Israel. The challenge was a battle to the death. If Goliath wins, then Israel becomes enslaved to the Philistines. If the Israelites win, the Philipines will become enslaved to Israel. Now, the difficulty arose when it became apparent that all of the Israelites, that is, all of the Israelite warriors, were afraid to fight Goliath. And then young David arrives on the scene offering to fight the giant. Listen to King Saul's reply. You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth.

How could a child be of any assistance here? No doubt that's what they thought. And notice that David's response to Saul has nothing to do with age. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear, the Lord, who delivered me from the poor of the lion and from the poor of the bear. He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. This is not a case of youthful arrogance. This is a case of childlike trust in God.

Believing. This encounter between David and Goliath is often presented as a story that models courage. David had so much courage to do this. But a closer reading of the text reveals something far greater than courage. It reveals faith in the living God.

Young David did more than give the Israelite army a lesson in courage. What David taught them was how to trust completely in God from a youth.

Matthew 18 verse 6 now, we'll move on. Matthew 18 verse 6. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me, see once again he's talking about this simple faith and trust in God, to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he would drown in the depths of the sea. Children are trusting by nature. Don't destroy that trust. So too are believers who put simple trust in the truth of God. Violating that trust by causing one of these to fall into sin through influence, false teaching, or bad example, is a serious thing. Don't cause a young one in the faith to lose trust and faith and confidence in God that they have when they're newly converted. Jesus said it's worse than if you were to have a large millstone tied around your neck and you were thrown into the water. And apparently this was one of the means of execution at the time. Jesus said it would be better if that were to happen to you. It's better to actually have that be done to you, be thrown into the river with a rock around your neck, than to have happened to you or to wait for those who purposefully bring sin into the lives of those who trust in God, those who have a childlike trust in God and have faith in God. Verses 7 through 10, woe to the world because of offenses. You know, let's not offend people. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes. Verses 8 and 9, if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into a life, lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hellfire. Now, Jesus is not saying that we should literally cut off our hands or feet or gouge out our eyes. He's saying, if you could avoid the eternal grave by doing this, it would be worth it. Bottom line, don't be an agent of stumbling in the life of another person. Do not be the one that causes offense. Have the heart and attitude and humility of a young child.

Jesus values those with childlike faith, and He wants them preserved, not abused. And then verse 10, Now, the New King James says, despise. Don't despise one of these little ones. That's a good translation. The idea is, what is your opinion of those who, through simple faith, have put their trust in God for everything? Do we scoff at them? Think them naive or even stupid? Don't. Christ appreciates those who have a simple faith and trust in Him like a child does, in its parents and in God as well. Here is what He said in this particular verse, verse 10, in the commentary by Gil about the angels. The angels see the face of my Father who is in heaven. Gil says, If such excellent creatures as the angels in heaven, who are continually favored with being in the presence of Christ's heavenly Father, honored with so high a station as always to stand before Him as ministers of His, if these are the guardians of these little ones, if they are committed to their care and they have the oversight of them, then they ought not to be despised. And besides, since the angels that have the care of them are so near the throne, it should deter everyone from having their charge in contempt or doing any injury to them, since they are capable of lodging accusations and complaints against them, and when leave is given, have power of executing the sorest judgments upon men.

So now let's talk about how to adopt this kind of attitude. The characteristic we want to focus on is this. The idea of innocence and dependency. Innocence and dependency. Children are dependent on their parents to provide food, shelter, and a nurturing environment in which they are protected and placed in an environment where they can grow, where they can mature and learn to survive on their own in safety and love. Every parent who loves their children does this. You cross...you hold their hand when they cross the street.

You make sure they don't go out in the cold without their coat on.

You stop them from touching the hot stove, and then you introduce them little by little to things that will cause them to grow and mature. Learning how to ride a bike is a prime example. When they've accomplished that, they have so many more opportunities for growth as they speed around the neighborhood on their bike. There's that in-between time when you, as a parent, are holding onto the bike seat as they go along so that they don't fall. And if you let it go and they fall over, they're going to be less trusting of you next time. So we're very careful that they don't hurt themselves. We should have that same sort of relationship with God, trusting and depending on Him, for God to hold the bike seat for us as we mature. There are two characteristics that I would suggest are beneficial for us here to adopt as we look at Matthew 18 here, and that is innocence and dependency. Number one, innocence. If you want to make a note, innocence. Let's read Romans 16, verses 17 through 20. Romans 16, verses 17 through 20.

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who caused divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own valley, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. In verse 19, For your obedience has become known to all, therefore I am glad on your behalf, but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. That word simple can also be translated as innocent or guileless. I want you to be innocent concerning evil, and the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The word translated simple in the New King James Version is achoraios. It means harmless or simple concerning evil. It implies, according to Strongs, unmixed, pure as in wines or metals, and is of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile. So there are certain innocence in the truth. Matthew 10, verse 16, let's go over there for a moment. Matthew chapter 10 and verse 16, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Harmless as doves. That can also be translated as innocent. Here's an interesting note from Gil's Bible commentary on verse 16. The serpent is a very sharp-sided, cunning creature and uses various arts and stratagems for its own preservation, and especially of its head. And it's so far to be imitated by the followers of Christ as to make use of all proper methods to preserve themselves from the insults and rage of men and not expose themselves to unnecessary dangers. And as much as in them lies, they should be careful to give no just occasion of offense or irritate and provoke them to use them ill and to avoid all snares and traps that are laid for them at the same time maintain the innocence and harmlessness of the dove, being free from all wicked cunning and craftiness, without rancor, malice and wrath, not meditating and seeking revenge, but meek and humble in their deportment. Leading inoffensive lives and proceeding in the course of their vocation, though liable to many insults and much oppression. See being harmless and innocent of the dove that wouldn't hurt a fly. A child trusts because that's all they know. What Jesus is telling us is that the character he wants in his followers is one who innocently, harmlessly trusts the Father and remains innocent or unmixed in the things of the world, things that are contrary to the things of God, following after the Spirit and not the flesh. And then there's dependency. Number two, dependency. Let's turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9. 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 9.

Yes, we have the centers of death in ourselves. They're in trouble. That we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. This is it, guys. We're going under. We can't trust in ourselves anymore. We have to trust in God who can resurrect us if necessary. Verse 10, who delivered us from so great a death, and they made it through, and does deliver us, in whom we trust that he will still deliver us. See, we live in a world that is constantly changing, constantly challenging us, constantly hurting us and trying to drag us down as God's people. But we serve a God who does not change. And though we can't always see his work in our lives, we need to trust that he really is there, just like a child believes. We have to fight against the tendency to rely on our own wits to get us through. And this is the road to the same kind of attitude Jesus is speaking against. 1 Timothy 4, verse 10, another passage on trust. Of course, we're talking about trust in God, not trust in ourselves. 1 Timothy 4, verse 10, for to this end, we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, just like King David did. The eternal God will deliver us, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. And another passage on trust. Psalm 112. Let's go to the Old Testament for a moment. Psalm 112, verses 6 and 7.

Psalm 112 and verse 6, Surely he will never be shaken. The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings. Verse 7, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. You see the kind of trust that God expects from us. We've got the innocence on one side and the dependence and trust on the other. This can be hard at times, but you know what? We have help. Not only are angels watching out for us, as we read, but the Spirit of God provides us with strength and power to do His will. And in addition, God wants us to rely on Him, to trust Him, to return to Him, to depend on Him, all with the innocence of a lamb or a dove. Let's get back to Matthew 18 again and read three final verses here today. Matthew 18, we're up to verse 12. We read verses 12 through 14. We talked about the innocence of a dove, the harmlessness of a dove, there's also the innocence of a lamb. Matthew 18, verse 12. What do you think? Of course, talking about those who would harm the little ones. If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? Verse 12. And if he should find it, surely I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Verse 14. Even so, and here's the clincher, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Of course, not talking about the sheep anymore, but you and I, and those who would have faith and trust and confidence in Him as their heavenly Father. God is our rescuer. God is the one that goes out looking for the lost sheep to bring us back. And in just the same way as a parent who has lost her child in the mall or at the airport, rejoices when they find them again, so too our God rejoices when we trust in Him and we return to Him. He finds us. Of course, He finds us spiritually. So we relax. It's okay to be a child in God's hands. It's okay to trust and have faith in Him, believing and trusting like a child does, not just in His parents, but in God Himself as well. So these passages today should turn our attention to the young children in our midst. There's a key to the kingdom. It is a key to Christian godliness. Why is it we always measure things by who's the best? Who's the richest? Who's the most popular? Who's the highest ranking or who's the most powerful? These scriptures show us that we should be focusing on a godly way of life and not aspiring to worldly ambition and lust for power. God will give us a reward far greater than anything we can aspire to in this lifetime. True greatness. Eternal life in His kingdom. So let's become children of God.