Who's Watching Your Spoon?
Our son and daughter-in-law live below us, as do their two sons, Kai and Silas. Now it’s no secret that “Papa” is Silas’s favourite “old person,” but along with that comes an awesome responsibility.
Almost every morning “the kids” come up for breakfast. Papa and Silas, who’s 28 months, will quite often have a bowl of cereal together. We like it mixed: some Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Cheerios with milk and honey. I’ll pick up my spoon and Silas does too. I’ll have a spoonful of cereal and so will he. I’ll lay down my spoon and he does too. I’ll pick up my bowl to have a sip of milk and so does Silas; sometimes we do a “cheers.” I’ll have a drink of coffee and he’ll have a drink of juice. Sometimes I share my coffee with him. His mom doesn’t like that.
Silas isn’t listening to my words. He’s watching my spoon.
One morning during our breakfast routine I was reminded of 1 Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” (ESV) Paul makes two statements here, and you can’t separate them, you can't use one without the other. First, “Imitate me” or follow my example. Bold words. Paul was a Roman citizen, trained under Gamaliel, fluent in Jewish law and Scripture. If anyone had earthly credentials to say “look at me,” it was him. But then he adds the qualifier: “as I imitate Christ.” That’s the key. Paul’s basically saying, “Copy me only as far as I’m copying Him.” All his degrees and his citizenship? He counted it as loss compared to knowing Christ. He wasn’t the destination — just a signpost pointing to Jesus.
One of the principal responsibilities of being a Christian is to raise up godly leaders for the next generation. But leadership doesn’t start at the pulpit. It starts at the breakfast table, with who’s copying you. That awesome responsibility isn’t burdensome. It’s just paying attention. Because like father, like son. Like Papa, like Silas. One day he’ll be leading someone too.
So folks, here are some questions that we need to consider: Who’s watching your spoon? Is your spoon worth watching? And are you pointing them toward Christ? Paul’s greatest desire, with all of his education and influence, was for people to see Christ in him and to encourage them to follow his example. Can we say the same to our children, family, friends, and colleagues?
What’s in your bowl? What’s on your spoon? Are we living lives that reflect Jesus? I’ll admit that some of my greatest convictions came from my family or co-workers. When I said or did something that was not becoming of the Christian walk, they knew. Sometimes it was just a look or a “Hmm, you call yourself a Christian.” Likewise, some of my greatest times of growth were when I confessed it before God and apologized to that individual for my behavior.
God, help us to be a people who are not ashamed of the gospel. Help us to live a life pleasing to You and to have a desire for others to see Christ in us.
Almost every morning “the kids” come up for breakfast. Papa and Silas, who’s 28 months, will quite often have a bowl of cereal together. We like it mixed: some Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Cheerios with milk and honey. I’ll pick up my spoon and Silas does too. I’ll have a spoonful of cereal and so will he. I’ll lay down my spoon and he does too. I’ll pick up my bowl to have a sip of milk and so does Silas; sometimes we do a “cheers.” I’ll have a drink of coffee and he’ll have a drink of juice. Sometimes I share my coffee with him. His mom doesn’t like that.
Silas isn’t listening to my words. He’s watching my spoon.
One morning during our breakfast routine I was reminded of 1 Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” (ESV) Paul makes two statements here, and you can’t separate them, you can't use one without the other. First, “Imitate me” or follow my example. Bold words. Paul was a Roman citizen, trained under Gamaliel, fluent in Jewish law and Scripture. If anyone had earthly credentials to say “look at me,” it was him. But then he adds the qualifier: “as I imitate Christ.” That’s the key. Paul’s basically saying, “Copy me only as far as I’m copying Him.” All his degrees and his citizenship? He counted it as loss compared to knowing Christ. He wasn’t the destination — just a signpost pointing to Jesus.
One of the principal responsibilities of being a Christian is to raise up godly leaders for the next generation. But leadership doesn’t start at the pulpit. It starts at the breakfast table, with who’s copying you. That awesome responsibility isn’t burdensome. It’s just paying attention. Because like father, like son. Like Papa, like Silas. One day he’ll be leading someone too.
So folks, here are some questions that we need to consider: Who’s watching your spoon? Is your spoon worth watching? And are you pointing them toward Christ? Paul’s greatest desire, with all of his education and influence, was for people to see Christ in him and to encourage them to follow his example. Can we say the same to our children, family, friends, and colleagues?
What’s in your bowl? What’s on your spoon? Are we living lives that reflect Jesus? I’ll admit that some of my greatest convictions came from my family or co-workers. When I said or did something that was not becoming of the Christian walk, they knew. Sometimes it was just a look or a “Hmm, you call yourself a Christian.” Likewise, some of my greatest times of growth were when I confessed it before God and apologized to that individual for my behavior.
God, help us to be a people who are not ashamed of the gospel. Help us to live a life pleasing to You and to have a desire for others to see Christ in us.
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