In this series
Sant Kabir in Raag Asa on Ang 479 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
(This is the composition of Bhagat Kabir sung in Raga Aasa and reference found on Ang 479 of the SGGS) Twelve years pass in childhood, and for another twenty years, he does not practice self-discipline and austerity. For another thirty years, he does not worship God in any way, and then, when he is old, he repents and regrets. His life wastes away as he cries out, “Mine, mine!” The pool of his power has dried up. He makes a dam around the dried-up pool, and with his hands, he makes a fence around the harvested field. When the thief of Death comes, he quickly carries away what the fool had tried to preserve as his own. His feet and head and hands begin to tremble, and the tears flow copiously from his eyes. His tongue has not spoken the correct words, but now, he hopes to practice religion! If the Dear Lord shows His Mercy, one enshrines love for Him, and obtains the Profit of the Lord's Name. By Guru's Grace, he receives the wealth of the Lord's Name, which alone shall go with him, when he departs in the end. Says Kabeer, listen, O Saints – he shall not take any other wealth with him. When the summons comes from the King, the Lord of the Universe, the mortal departs, leaving behind his wealth and mansions.
The above lines from Sant Kabir in the sacred Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikhs, inspire and motivate me to worship the Lord no matter what stage of life I may be in.
As I reflect on these teachings, a striking similarity emerges between the wisdom of Sant Kabir and the insights of King Solomon, who is renowned as the world’s wisest man and the author of Book of Proverbs. I believe that Kabir's words resonate with the timeless truths found in the Bible, and stand as an illuminating guide for believers on their spiritual journey.
I also remember Paul who gave this instruction to Timothy, his son in the faith: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Meanwhile we are told in Proverbs 22:6 to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
While the Bible does emphasize the importance of teaching children about God and instilling a foundation of faith from a young age, it may not explicitly state that humans should worship God specifically from childhood. However, there are verses that highlight the significance of imparting religious teachings to children and nurturing their understanding of God.
It is common understanding in Indian society that when we are children, it is not the age for worship but rather a time for fun and play. As we become adults, it’s commonly assumed that this is a time to think and work for our future and that one should not engage in Bhakti (worship). Soon we find that life goes by, and death draws near, and it is because of this fact that the Guru Granth Sahib reminds us that at the old age the time for Bhakti is no more, as faculties begin to fail us.
Because of this sense where Bhakti may never “make sense” for our lives, we must therefore be worshipping the Lord now for it is his name alone that will go with us in our afterlife and not our possessions.
These warnings, both from the Guru Granth Sahib and the Bible, motivate us to worship the Lord from our childhood itself and at every stage in life.
Rajdeep Singh from a Sikh background and today is the pastor of Focal Point Church, Ludhiana. Also referred to as “Priest on Wheels”, Singh is a substance abuse survivor, a biker, social worker, motivational speaker, and the founder of Nomads on Wheels Riding Club Ludhiana and Priest on Wheels Foundation.
