A Suffering Moment

Let us take a moment or two to better understand a verse in God’s Word.

The Lord said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Let us look first, at what the Scripture DOES NOT SAY.  

The word “suffer” here means to “allow the presence of” these children and not to suffer pain or frustration by their presence.  It is the timing that is important.  The word “suffering” is noted because it is not the opportune time for the adults who are experiencing the suffering.  However, there is a hidden, significant meaning here for the adults as well.

The “fruits of the Spirit” are to develop patience, tolerance, and other virtues for Christian growth (Gal. 5: 22-23).   Patience is acquired by experiencing trials for the testing of our faith.  We learn patience and tolerance through sometimes “suffering experiences” or “annoying to us” experiences.

Children are said to be a “reward” and a “heritage of the Lord” (Psa. 127:3).

Children are given unto parents as gifts and “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:  they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psa. 127: 5)

Scripture DOES NOT SAY to suffer annoyance when children come unto us for understanding, as the meaning is often misunderstood here 

(Matt. 19: 14).  The underlying significance of the suffering here, is at some times of teaching “little children” to understand (2 Tim. 3: 16), these times may not be the most opportune times for adults or other bystanders.  Yet, that does not lessen the significance of “the teachable moment” for others as well.

Let us look at the results in this Scripture.  Jesus highlighted the children for their desires to be near him and praised other parents for bringing their children to him to touch. (Matt. 19: 13-15) 

(Mark 10: 13-16).  Children often come to others when there is a desire to learn something significant  because it is their “teachable moment” time.  They are ready to learn. God’s “most teachable moments” however, may not always be for the obvious recipients.  For even then, there is growth for others as well. (1Pet. 3: 15)

The correlation here is that sometimes, little children are not so little.  They might be “older little children” struggling to grasp understanding in search of their “teachable moment” that once had been thought as being out of reach, but reflects God’s Word as being as relevant as the morning newspaper Phil. 4: 13) (Phil. 4: 7) and their teachable time as well.  Remember there is nothing impossible with God (Luke 1: 37).