Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
When I hear these words of Jesus, in the Bible, my mind goes to many things. I’ve heard that being childlike refers to the innocence and purity of a child. I’ve also heard of the blind faith that children often have and that this is what Jesus is talking about when he speaks these words to his disciples. I’m not denying any of these. I think all of these things help paint a picture of what Jesus is referring to. Lately, Jesus has been teaching me and adding to this picture, by adding this idea of complete dependence to the image of the child to whom the kingdom belongs.
Recently, I had the opportunity, and the privilege, to travel to Uganda to visit some friends and experience the ministry that they are involved in there. The severe poverty was overwhelming. Everywhere I looked there was need. The church was halfway finished. The Pastor called it a work in progress. They were waiting for God to provide the funds to finish the project. However, that didn’t stop them from meeting there and worshiping in the building.
Lack of food and proper nutrition was very evident. People rarely had the money to buy meat to eat. Mostly, they ate rice or matoke, boiled and mashed green plantains, along with beans. Yet, for all their needs and all their hardships, they expressed so much joy and gratitude in their hearts. They were thankful for what they had and grateful that God had provided them with food for the day. Moreover, they were so generous. They were willing to share, out of their poverty, with others around them who were also in need.
The Lord was speaking to me in so many ways on this trip. However, one of those ways that he was speaking to me was about dependence. These people depended on God for everything. The food they ate, the jobs they had (or work they were trying to find to provide for their family), and their health. In all of this, they were dependent on God. They trusted that he was a loving Father and that he would provide their daily needs. If someone was sick, they would pray and trust that He would heal. They were completely and utterly dependent on God in all areas of their life.
My children, at this point in their lives, are completely dependent on me (and their mother) to provide for their needs. They don’t need to worry about what they’ll eat, for they know that their father (and mother) will provide for them food to eat (even if it’s not what they would prefer). They don’t have to worry about what will happen if they get sick because they trust that they’re going to be taken care of.
They don’t have to worry about money to spend on their needs because they know that their father (and mother) are generous and will provide them all that they need. I believe that Jesus was teaching me that this is another part of what it means to be like a child. God desires that his children would seek to be more dependent on Him.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?“ And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34
Yet, so many times I find myself worrying about many things instead of trusting that God will provide. I find myself looking at the lack in my life rather than being grateful for what God has given me. I find myself trying to provide for myself rather than trusting that God will provide and waiting for Him. This is hard. It goes against everything our culture tells us. Our culture says provide for yourself and your family. It says work harder and sacrifice everything to provide for yourself. Yet, I see the Father asking me to trust in Him and to have faith that He will provide.
Right before going on my trip to Uganda I was concerned about finances and was stressing about how we were going to pay for a few things. Then God provided above and beyond my need for my trip to Uganda. While there I heard Him saying, “Will you trust me to provide for you? Will you trust me in the area of your finances? Will you stop trying to provide for yourself and trust that I will provide and depend on me more fully?”
I was convicted. The truth was I wanted to say yes, but I was struggling with it. Isn’t working hard and earning money part of how God provides for us? Doesn’t God provide the opportunities for us to work hard and through that process he provides for our needs? Am I really just supposed to sit back and wait for God to provide and not do anything to provide for myself? These are the real questions that I was wrestling with…and I still am.
Yet, I know that God desires for me to trust Him more. I know that God desires that I not stress about the things of this world and trust and depend on Him to provide. I know that I want this, too! I want to do these things. As I walk with Him, in this journey, I want Him to teach me to depend on Him more.
What does that look like? When are times I should act and when are times I should sit back and wait for Him to provide? I don’t think there’s a formula for something like this. I have a feeling that it will come through listening to His voice and obeying what he says. We are to become more like little children and go to Him. What is the Father asking you to trust Him with? Is the Father speaking to your heart about turning certain things over to Him and becoming more like a child dependent on your loving Father? Surrender these things to Him today and seek to live as His dependent and obedient children.
