Childish—Foolish

Childish—Foolish

In 1 Corinthians 13 we read that it is not the gifts or talents but rather love that makes us valuable. Neither does love without works profit us anything.

“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.” V. 11.

Paul gave this testimony to the Corinthians: “You look at things only according to the outward appearance.” 2 Cor. 10:7. Children grab for something that is shiny. They think what glitters is best. The first childish thought that arises when a person wants to serve God and lead people to faith is, “If only I could perform signs and wonders, then people would believe; then I would be a great servant of the Lord.” This is how childish the Corinthians were. Paul wanted to lead them away from this childish attitude and explain to them what love is: It bears all things, does not become bitter, is longsuffering and merciful, etc.

If I have faith to move mountains and know all the mysteries, but become impatient, I am nothing. If I am rich and give all my possessions to the poor, the poor will be happy, but if I am impatient, I do not have love. Then my generosity profits me nothing. This is difficult to believe for a person who is childish and carnal and looks at things only according to the outward appearance.

A person is born with talents. Why should he get any credit for that? You can receive the spiritual gifts as a gift, but you have to go on the narrow way, which means taking up your cross daily and denying yourself if you want to be rid of your impatience and conceit. The death of Christ must always work in us so that Jesus’ life can always be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Cor. 4:11. This is the only way in which we can partake of love and the virtues of Christ. It is the only way in which we can grow and increase in the virtues. This takes time. Partaking as much as possible of the life of Christ is a life-long process.

Paul commended himself as a minister of God in much patience and in tribulations. 2 Cor. 6:4. When Paul wanted to give Timothy some exhortations so he could be an even greater servant of the Lord, he wrote to him: “But be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” 1 Tim. 4:12-16, 6:11-14.

Timothy was a great servant of God. He was not exhorted to perform more signs and wonders. Not at all! Both Paul and Timothy had put off childish things. They did not look at things according to the outward appearance. On the contrary, talents and gifts are accorded their great value on the basis of love. If you seek them on the foundation of love, then love is a “more excellent way” to acquire them. 1 Cor. 12:31. By means of love we come to signs, wonders, and the gifts of the Spirit according to God’s will, and not according to the vanity of our lust. Jas. 4:3.

It would be easy for God to equip certain individuals with prominent gifts of the Spirit if it were useful and helpful for people, but we see that it is rare for Him to do so, even though people have fervently prayed for it. It has been far more difficult for God to find people who seek Christ’s virtues. Therefore there are few true servants of Christ who do not seek their own. Phil. 2:20-22.

“What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.” 2 Cor. 11:17-18.

It is typical for children to want to boast of what they have and are and what they have done. Paul writes further, “But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also,” etc. Then he begins just like the children: “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I,” etc. Vs. 21-23. This is how children boast: Me too! Me too! Measuring yourself among yourselves by what you are and what you have done is childish; it is foolishness. It is looking “at things only according to the outward appearance.” “Love does not parade itself.” Only in this love can you truly serve God and people.

The Corinthians were babes and carnal. Paul had to accommodate them in order to save them from false apostles and deceitful workers who transformed themselves into apostles of Christ. 2 Cor. 11:13. The Corinthians’ carnality forced him to become a fool. Ch. 12:11.

God be thanked who, in our days, has put servants in the church who can help the saints to grow up to the maturity of manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we should no longer be immature and be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery and cunning craftiness of men. Eph. 4:11-14. Those who grow up to the maturity of manhood do not just look at things according to the outward appearance. It is therefore useless to try and deceive them by transforming yourself. They have the mind of Christ and can judge you spiritually. 1 Cor. 2:15-16. God be thanked for this growth and this development in the church, so we can be preserved sound in the faith and in the sound doctrine that pertains to godliness, until Jesus’ return. 1 Cor. 6:3.