Put Away Your Toys Please

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(1 Corinthians 13:11)

I’ve noticed that many things made today are so easy to use that even a small child can operate them. Often, children learn how to use them before their parents do. There seem to be fewer opportunities for adults to learn something first and then teach their children.
Sometimes I wonder whether this reflects something deeper. Are we making things more childlike because adults are becoming more childish? I believe we still need to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Paul said that when he was a child, he spoke, understood, and thought as a child. But when he became a man, he put away childish things. I believe there comes a time in every man’s life when he must take a fresh look at his toys—and at what matters most.
To me, the Bible is one of the greatest gifts we have. Unlike a toy we eventually outgrow, it offers something for both children and adults. We can find joy, excitement, and understanding in its pages throughout our lives. Its message never grows old, and we never outgrow our need for it. Unlike a cell phone, the Bible requires someone to teach children how to understand it and apply its teachings to their lives.