Blankets & Thumbs: Have We Really Outgrown Them?
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” 1 Corinthians 13:11
When we were young children, it was perfectly normal and expected. But we leave some things behind as we get older, right?
The security and comfort we once sought in blankets and thumbs (and a stuffed puppy named Jack - ie my son Benjamin) now comes through…..well…. where do we run to for security and comfort?
Good question isn’t it?
As I’ve (grown up?), I’ve replaced such “juvenile” attachments as blankets and thumbs with these:
1. Food
2. Sleep
3. Money (economy?)
4. TV/Internet
5. Approval of others
6. Clothes/Image
7. _____________ (WHAT COULD YOU ADD?)
Does Getting older = Giving up childish ways?
WARNING:Â Not in terms of our spiritual growth.
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” - Psalm 34:8
I could get much more specific obviously, for example… under “food” - how about being more specific and saying…”ice cream”. As crazy as it seems, the truth is, ANYTHING can become an idol attachment we run to for security and comfort other than Christ alone…and this should not be.
May we be like David and know the goodness of God and the blessing of taking refuge in Him!
Moment of transparency…what’s your list?
Tags: spiritual growth
March 19th, 2009 at 5:52 am
All my strong points (the things I’ve been writing down on scholarship applications), the things I identify with most, outside my salvation, (the things fueling my ego/pride), loom over and many times eclipse the glory of Christ and what should be my sole security: the fact that I am loved and saved by Jesus the Christ.
My list is as follows.
1. Fast (I just got back from dominating a track meet, so this is, at the moment, #1)
2. Scholarly adroit (I can use big words and sound like I know what I’m talking about)
3. Spiritual (Because among youth group kids who know their Bibles, I claim preeminence)
4. Cool (at least I think I am, and I think others think the same)
So I do believe that my idol (were I to make physical my motives and thoughts and subconscious) would really be a statue of myself, and that I would go to gaze at this statue whenever I was insecure or depressed or drained. I don’t have finances to balance, and my clothes and house I take for granted, so I do believe I’ve turned to elevating myself, so as to be able to comfort myself with “me”.
Pride offers me security. Pride calls me to look in the mirror and be impressed with what I see, instead of looking toward heaven (wherever that may be) to lose myself, be overwhelmed, be blown away by who my God is and what He has done for me.