It’s time we stopped acting like children

Toby and I were on our daily morning walk, and the aroma in the air was not roses and freshly cut grass. It was garbage collection day, and both sides of every street were lined with trash cans. While the stench didn’t bother my 12-year-old mutt, I almost gagged upon encountering each house.

Which caused me to wax philosophical.

The Spiritual Stench of Immaturity

I can’t help but wonder – when people encounter me, do I give off some kind of stink?

Not literally, but you know, in terms of my personality. Am I unknowingly giving off vibes that make folks want to hold their noses, so to speak? As an “ambassador for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), I can’t afford to behave like a child throwing a tantrum in the cereal aisle.

Just as garbage oozes an unpleasant odor, our immature, childish behaviors can stink up our Christian walk.

I’m reminded of what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11:

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.

The Greek word for “gave up” is katargeō, which means to abolish, nullify, or destroy. So, Paul didn’t lock away his inner, spoiled little boy in a closet only to escape when things didn’t go his way.

No, he became a man and destroyed his childish ways.

What childish ways should a Christian give up?

Let’s keep things in context. Paul said to give up childish ways in verse 11 of First Corinthians chapter 13. What did he say leading up to verse 11? We don’t have to flip our Bibles any further than the preceding verses to find ten childish behaviors a Christian must destroy.

10 Childish Ways a Christian Must Destroy

“4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

This Scripture is the “love” passage, and you’ve heard it at every wedding you’ve attended — a great place for young Christians to be reminded of the childish ways they must destroy. Their marriage depends on it.

1 — Destroy Impatience

Patience comes from the Greek word makrothymeō, which means “to exhibit internal and external control in a difficult circumstance.” Impatience is acting like a spoiled brat in tough times or when the barista is too slow making your iced mocha latte with a shot of espresso.

A Godly person led by the Holy Spirit exercises self-control, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

Confession: I still stink of impatience at times, and a house full of witnesses will testify.

2 — Destroy Unkindness

Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” When news broke in 2012 that seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong had taken and concealed his use of banned substances, he lost all 11 of his sponsors valued at an estimated $150 million. Armstrong was a brand ambassador for his sponsors. His behavior mattered.

How much more does our behavior matter to a lost and dying world as ambassadors for the only Name that can save?

Let’s destroy this childish way and not allow the fruit of kindness to turn sour and spoil our witness for Christ.

3 — Destroy Envy

Envy comes from the Greek word zēloō, meaning “to be jealous, envious, to experience morally corrupt zealous ill will; covet, as a negative attitude of lust and desire for another’s possessions.” Doesn’t our world economy run on envy? Marketers design ad campaigns to promote envy and persuade you to buy more stuff you don’t need on credit cards you can’t afford. Isn’t crime motivated by evil, envious desires to have what you don’t and steal it from those who do?

Paul tells us the Christian response to envy in 1 Timothy 6:6–8:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

4 — Destroy Boasting

Admittedly, I enjoy trash-talking. Just play fantasy football with me. But it’s my lighthearted attempt at camaraderie, not boasting out of conceit.

Being around true braggarts is very unpleasant, like being nose to nose with a foul-breath loudmouth.

King Solomon said,

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2

Christians should exude a sweet smell, not a rancid one.

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:15

Keeping things in context, let’s back up a verse to understand why Paul said they are a pleasing aroma.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Paul brags on God for using him to brag about Jesus, which creates a sweet smell.

Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:31

5 — Destroy Arrogance

Merriam-Webster defines arrogance as “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.”

Does the definition of arrogance sound like Christ?

As Christians, we’re to be imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1). We are to have the “mind of Christ.”

Paul describes the essence of who Jesus is in Philippians 2:5–8,

“5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!”

These passages outline the humility we’re to have as Christians or “little Christs.”

6 — Destroy Rudeness

The NIV uses “dishonor others” instead of “rude.” Both come from the Greek word aschēmoneō, which means “to act improperly, dishonorably, indecently, rudely.”

The New Testament abounds with “love one another” verses; you don’t have to love Jesus to get behind this one. No one likes rude behavior.

I hate rude behavior in a man. I won’t tolerate it.

Captain Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove

Yes, it was rude when I pointed out my son-in-law’s small bald spot in front of the entire family. I apologize, Kyle.

7 — Destroy Selfishness

The NIV says love is not “self-seeking” instead of “does not insist on its own way.” Selfishness is the point. Christians must destroy their selfish, childish ways.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3–4

Selfishness may be the childish way that has the strongest grip on our lives.

Our stomachs growl, we eat.

Our throats get dry, we drink.

Our bodies shiver, we dress. 

Of course, you say, and you’re right. But how much do we consider others who can’t tend to these needs as easily as we can?

Sacrifice is the opposite of selfishness. Are Christians sacrificial for the benefit of others? That question is open for debate. A study on charitable giving statistics shows some interesting information:

• American Christians give less of their income now (2.5%) than they did during the Great Depression (3.3%).
• Tithers make up only 10–25 percent of a normal congregation.
• Only 5% tithe, and 80% of Americans only give 2% of their income.

The poor and needy are losing if our giving level keeps score between sacrifice and selfishness.

8 — Destroy Irritability

Christians shouldn’t be easily angered. As he reads this, my son shakes his head and says, “Yeah, Dad.” I know, I know. I’m not the man I used to be, but I’m not yet the man God wants me to be.

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29

Being quick to anger is a childish way I’m working on destroying with the help of the Holy Spirit.

9 — Destroy Resentment

I love the NIV translation, “it keeps no record of wrongs.” Bing defines resentment as “bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.” We usually keep track of those who mistreat us. I know I have, and it’s soul-sucking.

Holding resentment is like swallowing rat poison and waiting for the rat to die. The rat doesn’t care. The rat moved on and is snacking on a slice of discarded pepperoni pizza.

It isn’t thinking about you anymore.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrew 12:15

I learned the most therapeutic thing I can do when someone wrongs me is to pray for that person. Prayer keeps the nasty root of bitterness plucked from my soul. I don’t always get to this point of prayer quickly enough, and sometimes I have to spit out the poison first, but God wants us to destroy the childish way of holding onto resentment.

10 — Destroy Wicked Pleasures

The verse says love “doesn’t rejoice at wrongdoing.”

“Wrongdoing” means “sin,” “wickedness,” or “unrighteousness.”

Christians shouldn’t enjoy doing wrong, but we do, right? Sin can be pleasurable for a season (Hebrews 11:25). But like the law of gravity is true, we face another true law — we reap what we sow.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Hebrews 6:7–8

We know there are consequences to our actions — STDs, divorce, broken relationships, anxiety, depression, suicide. We reap spoiled fruits when we sow sin. We know these possibilities exist, yet we allow the thrill of a good time to lead us into sin.

The Apostle James said:

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14–15

How do we destroy the allure of wicked pleasures and avoid their nasty repercussions? The remainder of 1 Corinthians 13:6 verse points us in the right direction:

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

We rejoice in the Truth!

Jesus said,

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus is Truth, and we take pleasure in Him.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1–4

Destroy the Allure of Sin With These Six Simple Strategies:

1. Know who you are in Christ
2. Deepen your prayer life
3. Memorize scriptures
4. Fellowship with other believers
5. Keep praise on your lips
6. Do what the Word commands (James 1:22–25).

We Are a New Creation in Christ

We have a lot of childish ways to destroy to live as mature Christians. But with Christ in us, we have what it takes to win the battle.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

We have to do our parts. Faith is active. Evil is alive and well, and the Enemy stalks around looking for souls to devour (1 Peter 5:8). He wants ours. But Paul explains how we can keep our faith fresh and pleasing to God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1–2

As we mature in our faith, shedding these childish behaviors, we transform from spiritual ‘stinkers’ to ambassadors who genuinely reflect the fresh, clean scent of Christ’s love. So, go fight the good fight and destroy your childish ways. I’m working on mine, and I’m sure you’ll hear about my struggles.

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