Luke 18:15-17
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
When I first started to work, I felt this need and urge to be independent...I was out of school now, so it was time (or so I thought)...I now had a job, so I could earn a living, get a place to stay, and I had a car to drive, so now I could be free from my parents and others...I wanted to be on my own and do the things that I wanted to do, and not be cramped or not be able to do the things I wanted to do...I wanted to be out on my own...I thought that this was a sign of growing up and maturing...And when I got out own my own, I thought it was a very good thing...I would take now take care of myself and I would not need anyone's help...I would not be indebted to no one...I was free...
When we are very young, we do not think like this...We as little children are completely dependent on our parents, teachers, and others to help us to learn more and gain more independence and become self sufficient...When we are two, three, and four years old -I do not think I thought a lot about my independence...Jesus, when He says that "anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" maybe telling us (and me) that we need to be dependent on God (like the little children), and remain dependent on Him our entire lives...And maybe He is saying a little more than this...As I read these verses years ago, they were first odd to me, how this Man, could and would say, that I needed to be like a little child again, and dependent on someone again...This Man said some things (many things) that made Him not only different but things that would stand out and He would be alone in His thinking (this is what I still think today)...I would say His ideas and parables, are not only different, but His teachings, ideas, and thoughts would have made Him very a Solitary Man on earth (in my opinion)...
But His thoughts on children (and all His teachings) now I study more...When I first read His thoughts on children were not connecting with me...I did not want to be a child again -but I did and do want to go to heaven...
When I look back on me first leaving home, I didn't even feel I owed my parents anything...My thoughts were, it was either their duty or their job to raise me (and my brothers and sisters) and help me get to my independent stage...After all, others of my age were leaving home and since everyone was doing it, it was the right thing to do..
Being independent and needing the help of no one may not be as good as of a thing, as I had thought...As very young children, we do not realize that we maybe owe our parents, teachers, and others who have helped us become independent a great of debt for the help they have given us...As we age and if we continue to hold on to this independent thinking mentality -it may not be a good thing...To be completely independent and if our thinking includes the thinking of "I need no one", then we are not thinking right...God has given me all the things I need...And I also owe Jesus and His Father a great debt for saving me from our sins...An attitude of independence maybe an obstacle to our Father and His Son...When I finally realized that I am indebted to many (for how I was helped in my life), including our LORD and Savior, then it easier to worship Him...
There are many things I love about Jesus and what He says...Because He stood up two thousand years ago and said He is Truth, and if one believes that (which I do), then He is in fact truth...It doesn't matter if everyone else believes something else...Truth is truth no matter if One believes it or a million...As I said earlier, He seems a Solitary Man in the way He taught, and many people who listened to Him would, could and did find difficulties in following One who thought and talked so independently...His ideas, however, to me are fresh and remain original...So as I have aged, my independence has become less important...I know now I can never repay my parents or Him for what they and He has done...I have learned that being dependent on someone, somehow and in some ways are connected to love...