Jesus's Can't Miss Parenting Hack for Everyone!
I think I have stumbled upon the absolute best parenting advice I have ever seen. Naturally, it comes from the mouth of Jesus.
On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, “Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said, “I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all. Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me. But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around their neck. Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
Matthew 18:1-7 (OEB)
Did you catch it?
"But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around their neck."
As the parent of a toddler, I can attest that you avoid so much stress and strife simply by not tempting a child with things they are not equipped to handle.
Placing that tasty bowl of candy, or shiny fragile vase within reach of tiny hands is placing temptation in the way of a little one. Do so, and disaster is sure to follow. Remove temptations, and things will go well with you.
That is some great parenting advice in my opinion, but what does it mean in the context of the passage?
The disciples are asking Jesus who the greatest in the Kingdom is. Jesus answers by saying that to even enter the Kingdom, you must become like a child and that those like children are the greatest.
What then does it mean to humble ourselves like children in the context of the woes cast to those who place temptation in the way of children?
It means woe to us who willfully place and leave temptations in our own path.
Those greatest in the Kingdom of God are those who can humble themselves and recognize that like children, temptations need to be fully removed from their midst and not simply avoided by mere strength of the will. That won't do. It is foolishness to leave temptations in the midst of a child.
Jesus continues:
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna. Beware of despising one of these little ones, for in heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 18:8-10 (OEB)
Do you find yourself stuck in any cycles of doing things you rather wish you didn't?
Eating too much chocolate?
Staying up too late scrolling?
Getting too angry every time you check the news?
Cut it out! Remove the temptations from your midst!
Throw the junk food away and don't buy anymore.
Delete the apps and turn the phone off.
Turn the TV off and block all sources of aggravation.
Humble yourself like a child. Ruthlessly remove temptation from your midst. Be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
You are Love.