Children - A Blessing From God

Edward Fudge

"Some time ago, a retired couple sat across the aisle from us in a restaurant," writes a Christian sister. "The woman commented with a sneer as I sat the four children down, 'Are all those kids YOURS?' I smiled and said 'Yes, they are. We're very proud of them.' She came back with 'How are you going to support so many?' I told her we live one day at a time and we teach our children to value simplicity. She said 'Well, I hope you have a good-paying job!' To this day, I believe God put these words in my mouth: 'No, I just have a rich Father.'"

"God calls children 'blessings' - in Psalm 127 and in many other texts. Why, then, don't we WANT to have them?

Or why only one, or two?

A modern-day Abraham might consider it more of a liability than an asset to have his 90-year-old wife expecting a baby. But are modern-day babies any less a part of God's plan?"

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People who make disparaging or nosy remarks to someone else about the size of that person's family are nosy, impertinent, insensitive and rude. There is no excuse for such behavior. Sadly, ours is not a time and place where good manners are common. babies, babies, babies . . . graphic loading . . .

I agree fully with you that children are entrusted to us as gifts from God, that we ought not to "delete" unexpected ones (before or after they are born), and that God will not give us more than we can handle if we are seeking his will. I also believe that we parents learn much about God's love as we deal with our children, and that godly parents can teach their children much about God's fatherhood through a proper example.

However, we need not be unaware that the Old Testament, people of God lived in extended families, and in agrarian and semi-agrarian societies.

Childlessness was socially undesirable, for children (especially males) not only constituted needed workers but also the "social security" for aged parents.

I know no reason why we should think those people were unaware of family planning by "natural" means, or that God frowned on such foresight. Jesus suggested that one should not go to war or plan a construction project without "counting the cost" - although winning a war or building a house both depended on God's favor and blessing.

Should we think it less prudent to combine fiscal stewardship with planning a family? Of course, the conclusions a couple reaches are their business and God's alone, and ought not be second-guessed or judged by others who have no responsibility in the matter.

If we entrust our families to God - in planning, rearing, and teaching - he will certainly guide and provide in that area of life as well as in any other. May your house be filled with his Presence and his abiding peace.

Edward Fudge is not a new person, at all. However, he is new to the Focus On Jesus pages. For more of what he writes, why not visit his web site for more . . . Just click here and you'll be there!