Better You Than Me.

This past week my wife and I found out that we are having twins! We were so excited by this news; however, the most common response from our family and from fellow Christians was, “Wow! Was that planned?” or “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Yikes! Better you than me?” or “Where are you going to put them?” You see, we already have three other children, so to most people adding numbers 4 and 5 is crazy!

Problem is, we’re not most people. We are people that follow God’s Word and God’s Word makes it clear that God has a way different picture about children than the world does (or for that matter, the vast majority of American Christianity does). God doesn’t view children as a burden – He views them as a blessing. He wants us to have children, and when He gives us many we are to take it as being blessed of God, not burdened or beaten down by Him. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them! (Psalm 127)

And this is how Sarah and I view it. We are ecstatic about adding twins two our family. And though we have lots of uncertainties, we know ultimately that God will provide. He was the One who commanded mankind to “be fruitful and multiply.” (Gen. 1:27&28; 9:1&7; 35:11; and Lev. 26:9) He states repeatedly in His Word that having many children means you are blessed of Him! (I Chron. 25:4-5; 26:4-5; Gen. 17:6; 22:17) The Scriptures repeatedly present childlessness as an unfortunate thing. (Hos. 9:10-17; Ex. 23:25-26; Dt. 7:13-14; Gen. 30:1; I Sam.1:10; Lk.1:6-25)

All this – and piles more I didn’t mention from Scripture – causes us to desire to have children – as we see His view of them! I haven’t always thought this way. There was a time when I only wanted a couple of children, but the world taught me that. Thank God for my brother-in-Christ, Jamey Birmingham and his wife, Sandra, for showing me the truth of God’s Word through how they live their lives.

As Christians, we have children because we see this created order declared in God’s Word and we obey it; we live in fulfillment of it; we don’t try to circumvent it. Sadly, today, we live in a time where most Christians are hell-bent to emulate the world and follow the world’s preaching – pursuing wealth and ease – and viewing having children as a hindrance of such goals. 

As long as we, Christians, view children as a burden, we will not experience the victory of multi-generational faithfulness. Judgment begins first in the House of God. That means us. We must actively seek to bring forth legions of children for the glory of God. We must be willing to bless future mothers with the very words given to Rebekah: “May you be the mother of thousands of millions, and may your seed possess the gate.” Instead of telling mothers, “Better You than Me.”