lovely
Member
Homeskillet,
I am specifically speaking of couples that are married, and are believers. If you have a couple, who is wanting to know what God desires for them in this area, I think it is good to encourage them that Scripture teaches us to receive His blessings as He pours them out. The financial, emotional, and spiritual aspects of this are also in God's Word...they all go hand in hand as we try and obey God. I am not suggesting that we are allowed to not be responsible in all these other areas, but we better be having babies. I am saying that maybe we should make children a priority before cable, eating out, the movies...etc. That children are a blessing because God says they are, and we should do our best to have them, and care for them. But, when tragedy hits us, and it will, we trust God to meet our needs, while doing our best to be prayerful, obedient, and to work hard and make an effort.
If someone is not prepared for marriage, and children, that should be addressed before they are married. The two go hand in hand. I am teaching my sons, and daughter, that certain criteria will have to be met before they marry with my permission, and blessing. First, are they ready Spiritually, everything else will follow if they are. Are my sons willing to, and trained to, Lead, support, protect, train, and sacrifice for their wives and children. Is my daughter trained to submit, respect, love, and serve her husband and to care for, train, and protect their children? I am talking about getting back to God's picture of His people multiplying, and how that relates to our relationships in this world and to God, and how much we value them and His will. It does not benefit us to distort that picture, imo, by not preparing for it, by allowing immorality to pervert it, and by using artificial means to prevent it...out of fear or selfish motives. Trusting God, and obeying His Word, are the most practical things a believer can do. Israel kept multiplying even in captivity. Those who want to please Him in this area, sincerely, will be able to do it because He will bless them for their obedience...and they will do their best to put His will first in every area out of love, not external pride.
I want to share my own struggles in this area. When I was first married I had just started working in my desired field...two years into it. My husband thought it would be best if I quit, and stayed home with our son. He felt God's Word taught this was best for our family. We were planning to have our house built in a nice area...with nice schools. I made more than he did, nearly twice as much at that time. I was afraid to quit because of financial security. He decided we would buy a home in the city...much smaller, and cheaper. I submitted...but not with the best attitude, and not convinced it was the right thing to do. About three months after my husband and I did this...he lost his job. Boy, did people bad mouth us about how we couldn't afford for me not to work, and that we definitely could no afford another child. Now, after my first son's birth I wanted to get a permanent operation to prevent more pregnancies. I was extremely sick with him, and had miscarried before we had him. I just could not go through that sickness again. My husband asked me to trust him, and to trust the Lord. I did. And then he lost his job, as I said. I was scared to death...another baby was coming. I was so discouraged. I became bitter inside because the words of those who thought we were so stupid for trusting God, and obeying Him, were ringing in my ears. We began to cut out anything we could to save money. Our savings was dwindling, and my husband was working for pennies at various jobs...praying that God would give him something better. Just before our youngest son was born, he was given a job in the warehouse of an investment firm. It payed the bills. I was learning how to budget well, and how to get bargins. I was offered my job back...it was so tempting. But God was working in my heart on this matter. The words of others didn't mean anything to me anymore. I began to desire something more than financial security in my life. I wanted God to teach me to trust Him, and be given over to His will on these matters. I wanted my family to be my ministry. I had a vision. I wanted to help my husband in his endeavors, and to raise children that had been trained God's way. This desire began to burn in my heart. I wanted more children, many of them. Then, my daughter was on the way, what a blessing. By that time, my husband was no longer working in the warehouse, but because of his hard work, and integrity, he was a project manager in the firm. I saw God work it out, and I praise Him to this day for it. I learned so much. What a blessing that was, and it helped me to trust Him more. God had truly changed my heart on this issue, and many others that it touched on. But, more importantly, I learned that He is faithful when you obey Him. It was a great preparation for me with things to come in my life.
Now that I am doing things as a single person, I am so blessed by the three little ones we were able to have. I am still able to stay home with them, and I am blessed to be doing this ministry still. God gave me what I wanted before I even knew what it was. I am trusting Him for more blessings if I ever marry again. I am not doing this out of a desire to earn my way to heaven. I am hoping to be able to mother more children because I love God, His commands, and His blessings.
Well, I just wanted to explain where I was coming from, and why I am so passionate about this topic. Blessings
I am specifically speaking of couples that are married, and are believers. If you have a couple, who is wanting to know what God desires for them in this area, I think it is good to encourage them that Scripture teaches us to receive His blessings as He pours them out. The financial, emotional, and spiritual aspects of this are also in God's Word...they all go hand in hand as we try and obey God. I am not suggesting that we are allowed to not be responsible in all these other areas, but we better be having babies. I am saying that maybe we should make children a priority before cable, eating out, the movies...etc. That children are a blessing because God says they are, and we should do our best to have them, and care for them. But, when tragedy hits us, and it will, we trust God to meet our needs, while doing our best to be prayerful, obedient, and to work hard and make an effort.
If someone is not prepared for marriage, and children, that should be addressed before they are married. The two go hand in hand. I am teaching my sons, and daughter, that certain criteria will have to be met before they marry with my permission, and blessing. First, are they ready Spiritually, everything else will follow if they are. Are my sons willing to, and trained to, Lead, support, protect, train, and sacrifice for their wives and children. Is my daughter trained to submit, respect, love, and serve her husband and to care for, train, and protect their children? I am talking about getting back to God's picture of His people multiplying, and how that relates to our relationships in this world and to God, and how much we value them and His will. It does not benefit us to distort that picture, imo, by not preparing for it, by allowing immorality to pervert it, and by using artificial means to prevent it...out of fear or selfish motives. Trusting God, and obeying His Word, are the most practical things a believer can do. Israel kept multiplying even in captivity. Those who want to please Him in this area, sincerely, will be able to do it because He will bless them for their obedience...and they will do their best to put His will first in every area out of love, not external pride.
I want to share my own struggles in this area. When I was first married I had just started working in my desired field...two years into it. My husband thought it would be best if I quit, and stayed home with our son. He felt God's Word taught this was best for our family. We were planning to have our house built in a nice area...with nice schools. I made more than he did, nearly twice as much at that time. I was afraid to quit because of financial security. He decided we would buy a home in the city...much smaller, and cheaper. I submitted...but not with the best attitude, and not convinced it was the right thing to do. About three months after my husband and I did this...he lost his job. Boy, did people bad mouth us about how we couldn't afford for me not to work, and that we definitely could no afford another child. Now, after my first son's birth I wanted to get a permanent operation to prevent more pregnancies. I was extremely sick with him, and had miscarried before we had him. I just could not go through that sickness again. My husband asked me to trust him, and to trust the Lord. I did. And then he lost his job, as I said. I was scared to death...another baby was coming. I was so discouraged. I became bitter inside because the words of those who thought we were so stupid for trusting God, and obeying Him, were ringing in my ears. We began to cut out anything we could to save money. Our savings was dwindling, and my husband was working for pennies at various jobs...praying that God would give him something better. Just before our youngest son was born, he was given a job in the warehouse of an investment firm. It payed the bills. I was learning how to budget well, and how to get bargins. I was offered my job back...it was so tempting. But God was working in my heart on this matter. The words of others didn't mean anything to me anymore. I began to desire something more than financial security in my life. I wanted God to teach me to trust Him, and be given over to His will on these matters. I wanted my family to be my ministry. I had a vision. I wanted to help my husband in his endeavors, and to raise children that had been trained God's way. This desire began to burn in my heart. I wanted more children, many of them. Then, my daughter was on the way, what a blessing. By that time, my husband was no longer working in the warehouse, but because of his hard work, and integrity, he was a project manager in the firm. I saw God work it out, and I praise Him to this day for it. I learned so much. What a blessing that was, and it helped me to trust Him more. God had truly changed my heart on this issue, and many others that it touched on. But, more importantly, I learned that He is faithful when you obey Him. It was a great preparation for me with things to come in my life.
Now that I am doing things as a single person, I am so blessed by the three little ones we were able to have. I am still able to stay home with them, and I am blessed to be doing this ministry still. God gave me what I wanted before I even knew what it was. I am trusting Him for more blessings if I ever marry again. I am not doing this out of a desire to earn my way to heaven. I am hoping to be able to mother more children because I love God, His commands, and His blessings.
Well, I just wanted to explain where I was coming from, and why I am so passionate about this topic. Blessings
You have a very lovely heart, and I pray that when I am married and have children I will approach these issues with the same maturity, love, and faith in God that you have! Know that your post was interpreted just as you intended it here, and every bit appreciated. 