“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 18:4.]

Jesus said these words to his disciples in response to their questions concerning who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I’m sure they thought his answer was strange. Let’s consider what Jesus is saying to each of us in this verse.

Children are humble. What does this mean? We know children who are proud and arrogant in their interactions. So, how are they humble? One word:  dependence. A child is totally dependent on adults to provide food, clothing, shelter, and instruction on how to live. They can’t get a job and earn enough money to provide for themselves. In their dependence, they learn different lessons from adults. The most important ones are about God and the gospel.

What do we like the best independence or dependence? If we’re honest, most of us will say independence. We want to be able to accomplish things ourselves, or at least, figure them out. It’s important to us to be able to live on our own steam. However, Jesus calls us to be dependent. We are to be dependent on him and on his family as we live out this life. This means that there will be those who will be dependent on us. What does dependence look like?

1. Listening

We need to take the time to listen. If children don’t listen, then rebellion can be the result. The same is true for us. It’s important that we listen to the Word and follow what it says. There are times we need to listen closely to our friends or neighbors as God speaks through them. Our heart’s growth is dependent on our listening. “Know this, my beloved brothers:  let every person be quick to hear.” [James 1:19a.]

2. Learning.

When we listen, then we learn. I love it when a parent stops and tells me how their child knew the story taught on Sunday. The child listened, and the result was learning. The thing is, we never stop learning. I’m older now and am still learning. God teaches me from his Word and from people he puts in my life. There is a need to listen well and then depend on God to show me what he wants me to learn. “Let the wise hear and increase in learning.” [Proverbs 1:5a.]

3. Loving.

In general, children love well. It’s so encouraging to witness a child going over to comfort someone in their class who has gotten hurt. They’re aware of each other and come to the rescue. We are to love well. This will take some humbling on our part because it’s not always easy. The love of Christ is what is to compel us to love others. He loved us so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself to pay for our sins. We can depend on God to help us to love well in our community. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to have love for one another.” [John 13:34.]

4. Leaning.

Have you seen children lean into their parents’ legs as they are standing with them? This is a beautiful picture of trust. The child trusts the parents in whatever situation they’re in. They lean in for protection and direction. What a beautiful picture of how we should be leaning into God for our protection and direction. Our dependence on him is necessary in this life. Lean into God by telling yourself truth of who he is and being thankful. The Holy Spirit will be our helper in our leaning. “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.” [Psalm 9:10.]

We can learn from children by realizing we are children. If we are followers of Christ, then God has called us his children. It’s time we started to act like who we really are, children of the best Father ever!

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” [John 1:12-13.]