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There is an incredible beauty to the level of trust a little child shows toward parents who treat him or her well.

The other day, my daughters and I were playing. My three-year-old was pretending to be a dinosaur and roaring at me. I pretended to be scared, which made her laugh, so she did it again. After a few minutes of this, she said, “Now you be the dinosaur!”

So I lifted my arms in the air and let out a big roar. She pretended to be scared and jumped on the bed to hide under the covers.

My one-year-old, who was sitting on the floor, had been giggling the whole time. I turned to face her, knelt down, and roared in her face. I did it abruptly and somewhat forcefully—enough that it could have startled her.

But although I was nearly nose-to-nose with her, she didn’t even flinch.

She just grinned and kept on giggling.

Why?

Because she trusts me.

She knows that I’d never intentionally do anything to hurt her. I have never laid hands on her in a harmful way, and I try to control my tone and temper so that even when I’m frustrated, I don’t raise my voice at her. While I don’t always succeed, speaking harshly to either of my children is not the norm.

So because she doesn’t know me as someone who harms or shouts at her, she had no reason to be afraid—even when I did something that might have been scary coming from someone else.

The thing about young children is that they’re totally reliant on their parents. That trust is foundational to their formative years. Their parents are their world. They nurture, feed, clothe, and protect them. So much of what a baby has comes through the care of a parent, and the child trusts that parent to provide what he or she needs.

In Luke 18:15–17, Jesus talks about receiving the kingdom of God like a child. And in the verses immediately following, that faith is powerfully contrasted with the attitude of a wealthy, powerful man.

As Jesus was teaching, parents began bringing their children—even infants—to Him so that He might touch them. But as they drew near, the disciples rebuked them.

It seems the disciples viewed the children as a disruption or inconvenience.

How often can that still happen today?

Children can sometimes be treated like a separate entity from the church. They go to the nursery, children’s church, or youth group—and if someone chooses to keep a child in the “main” service, especially a crying baby, they may receive a few sideways glances.

But Jesus welcomed the children.

Do you think all those babies were perfectly silent for Jesus?

Probably not.

Yet Jesus called the children to Himself and then used them as an example.

He said, “for of such is the kingdom of God.” Then He said that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will by no means enter it.

And what does it mean to receive it like a child?

With trust.

A young child approaches a loving parent with confidence. There isn’t a backup plan tucked away in case Mom or Dad fails to come through. The child simply trusts.

Likewise, we receive the kingdom by trusting its King.

Immediately after this teaching, a rich ruler approached Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus asked why the man called Him good, since no one is good but One—that is, God. Then He pointed the man toward the commandments, specifically mentioning those dealing with how he treated others.

The ruler replied that he had kept all these things from his youth.

Then Jesus exposed the place where the man’s confidence truly rested.

He told him to sell all that he had, distribute it to the poor, and follow Him. Jesus also promised that he would have treasure in heaven.

The man became very sorrowful because he was extremely rich.

His wealth provided security, comfort, and status. And when Jesus called him to release it and follow Him, he couldn’t do it.

Jesus then said how difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. In fact, He said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Some have suggested that Jesus was referring to a small gate that required a camel to kneel to pass through. But there is no solid historical evidence for such a gate, and Jesus’ point appears much stronger than that.

He was describing an impossibility.

The people understood the weight of His words because they responded, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered:

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

Jesus responded that those who leave behind what they possess for the sake of the kingdom of God will receive far more, both in this life and in the age to come.

So, was Jesus saying salvation comes only when we abandon every earthly possession and leave behind everyone we love?

I think the answer connects directly back to the children.

The disciples had demonstrated a willingness to entrust themselves to Jesus. They had left behind what was familiar to follow Him, believing that what they found in Christ was greater than what they left behind.

The rich ruler could not do that.

His confidence was in his wealth. It kept him secure, well-fed, and comfortable. When Jesus revealed what he was trusting and called him to surrender it, the man walked away sorrowful.

He could not say, “I believe the kingdom of God has all that I need.”

Can you?

Just as the kingdom was sufficient for the disciples, it is sufficient for us.

But when our ultimate confidence rests somewhere else—in money, possessions, success, relationships, status, or our own abilities—we struggle to trust the King completely.

The heart of a little child rests securely in the care of a loving parent.

Can we say that we trust God the same way?

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