Limiting God's Blessing

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

(Psalm 127:3-5 ESV)

It’s common, in our society, for people to comment that children are a blessing. It’s heard, most frequently, when celebrating a pregnancy or a birth with a friend or family member. We go on to add that children are a miracle.

However, even though this is commonly said, it isn’t reflected in our lives or our society. What our lives suggest is that children are not a blessing, but a burden. What our lives suggest is that children are a hindrance.  

For this reason, we do all that we can to limit the number of children we bear. Many, in our nation, support abortion for any and every reason. They believe that we should have the right to take the life of a child that we do not desire. They believe that it should be up to us to decide the size of our family.

Most of us have also gone all in on birth control. Even when married, we wait to have children until “we are ready.” We wait until we have “enough” material resources (in our opinion).

In fact, limiting the number of our children is held up as a virtue in today’s world. We’re told that our world is being overpopulated. We’re told that the world cannot support the number of people who are to come. And, for this reason, reducing the number of children is viewed as wise.

Our nation even supports efforts in various third world nations to limit the number of children being born. We see them as the biggest source of growth in the world population. And, because they are the “problem,” we try to fix it.

I’ve been questioned and insulted for having as many children as I do. I’ve been asked why my wife and I chose to have a larger family. I’ve had people make negative comments as my children followed me around the store.

If we truly believed that children are a blessing, would this be the case? Doesn’t it make sense that, if we truly believed this, we wouldn’t seek to limit his blessing? If we truly believed this, doesn’t it make sense that we’d embrace it?

If God promised to bless us with wealth, we wouldn’t seek to limit it in any way. If he promised to bless us with health, we wouldn’t seek to limit it in any way. If he promised to bless us with power, we wouldn’t seek to limit it in any way. So, if children are truly a blessing, why do we do so with them?

When traveling in third world nations, the size of my family is applauded. Our fellow Christians, in other nations, truly believe our children to be a blessing from God. And, for this reason, they celebrate with us.