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“Can’t tell yawl young folks nothing – think you know everything!” If I had a dollar for every time my siblings, cousins, and I heard my grandmother and aunts make this statement when I was growing up, I’d probably have a few extra thousand to spare. Now that I’m a mother, I find myself saying the exact same thing to the young folks in my family.
The Apostle Paul said in 1Corinthians 13:11 (NLT), “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” As adults, we should have learned, some of us through hard knocks, that the results will be disappointing when we do things quickly without minding the details and taking the time to do it right. This was the thing that roused my grandmother and aunts more than anything else. They didn’t like the way we rushed through things without being detailed, just so we could do them as quickly as possible.
Those of us that have made costly mistakes by neglecting this very basic and pivotal lesson of taking our time to do things right, become frustrated when we see our youngsters neglecting it as well. It’s equally as frustrating to see adults still taking this childish approach to life. The Word teaches us that when we grow up, we should put away childish things. Some of us took this lesson to heart, but if your experience is anything like mine, you’ve seen plenty of full-grown folks kick this one to the curb. You’d think they didn’t learn a thing about patience and discipline growing up.
There’s a saying that conveys the notion that success is built from the bottom up, not the top down. This indicates that a person has to do some grunt work at the bottom in terms of putting tools and resources together, and then systematically organizing the work that needs to be done. After this, the hands on part of construction can begin. The person can then build layer after layer; elevating themselves higher in the process. As a single person desiring to be married, this is a very good analogy of what is required on our parts.
In the day and time in which we now live, the word “instant” is a surefire enticement. We want things now and not later. The problem with this is that God doesn’t respond to our needs just because we see them as being quick, fast, and in a hurry. One of the reasons why tribulations hit us so hard is because we don’t want to allow for the element of time to bring wisdom and healing. We expect for hurt and pain to dissipate almost immediately, even if we’ve had a hand in creating or causing it for others.
The capacity to love is something that has to be built and cultivated. When it comes to worship and praise, we are incapable of presenting God with something acceptable without the indwelling Holy Spirit’s help. He, the Spirit, extends to us the capacity to go deep in our souls and produce something of genuine repentant and holy quality. He helps us to have an Abel offering of love, rather than a Cain one.
In 1Corinthians 13:10 (KJV), God tells us, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” The notion of instant love can be very alluring, but it represents something that is in part. Like everything else that is in part, it will fall by the wayside in order to make way for the real deal, which is the love of Christ. This is the kind of love that God wants us to build in our hearts.
You see, God is teaching us about Himself. He’s an all-powerful, all-knowing, loving Father. Nothing He does is half-way. He gave us the best. We’re to be like Him; therefore, you and I have no other choice but to be extremely interested in giving the best as well. This means that we have to get our hearts and minds to a point where we’re truly comprehending God’s love, so we can in turn funnel it through to others.
When we’re not as well formed in spiritual maturity as we should be, we will want instant love as quickly as we can have it. We want food quick, we want to get to our destinations quick, we want forgiveness quick…it goes on and on. When this is our attitude, it’s difficult to make wise decisions. Proverbs 12:15 (NLT) warns, “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” The consequences of making quick decisions about love are very costly. Heavenly Father wants us to meet the love of our lives, but we’ve got to do things His way. We must be patient with ourselves as God builds the capacity for long, lasting love in our hearts.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
“Instant Love” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2016. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
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