Trust… Like a Child

Mark 10:13-22

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010%3A13-22&version=NIV;TLB

 

 

 

Have you ever seen a father throw his child up in the air and then catch him or her on the way down as they cry out with laughter and joy? It takes a lot of trust in dear old Dad.

 

Children are so much more trusting than adults. They

take things at face value. They don’t have agendas. Their ego doesn’t get in the way. Whereas adults are cynical and suspicious. They tend to try to manipulate things to control them. They are motivated by “what’s in it for me”. Take today’s passage for example.

 

The children came to Jesus with no expectations; no pride; no “here I am take me” attitude. On the other hand, the rich young ruler had it all figured out. He knew there was a formula, and if he could learn what it was, he could have eternal life. It was simple: one plus one is two.

 

Which category do you fall under? The trust of a child or the control of an adult?

 

As adults we like to appear as though we have it all together. After all, the world doesn’t reward those who are childlike and waits for the adult to take charge. It rewards those who take control. It rewards those who are proactive and preemptive. It rewards those who make things happen.

 

There are some good questions brought up in this passage today. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” That’s a good one for all of us to ask. Another one is,“Why do you call me good?” Jesus was great at asking a question in response to a question. He makes us think when we don’t want to.

 

But maybe the most important question to ask is one that never gets asked. It is brought out by the two stories. By comparing and contrasting these two stories we see two very different styles of approaching Jesus. One as a child. The other as the rich young ruler.

 

The question to ask yourself is: How do I approach Jesus? Like a child or like a ruler? It's time to put your hand in his and follow him... like a child.