“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.”
Psalm 127:3-5 (NLT)
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Children are a gift, and they are given by God. The Hebrew wording in the first line of this passage evokes the image of an inheritance given by a wealthy father. God is a very wealthy father. One of the wonderful blessings he gives us to enjoy is children. The next three lines tell us one of the reasons why children are a blessing: because they can defend their parents in their old age. In ancient Israel, court was held at the city gates. All the men of the town would gather there to make important decisions for the community. Having many children meant having many allies. Children could help protect their parents from any injustice that might be done to them.
Children Are a Gift
The messages of this passage are fairly simple, but they carry many implications for our lives. The first thing this Psalm tells us is that children are a gift. In today’s culture, children are often seen as a burden instead of a blessing. People don’t want to have children because of the added responsibility, or they put off having children so they can enjoy independence for a bit longer. But the Bible’s value system stands in stark contrast to our culture’s value system. We are to view children as a blessing. This means that Christians should treasure children and try to have children if possible, and that once they have children they should treat them as a prize. The Bible tells us that if we don’t value children, our brains aren’t working like they should. Children are a gift.
Children Are Given by God
The second message of this Psalm is that children are given by God. Your children may have not been planned, but that doesn’t mean they are accidents. Your children are God’s gift to you. When you look at them, remember where they really came from: God. Thank your husband or your wife for your kids, but thank God all the more. He is the true source of the joy you have in your children.
Memorize Psalm 127:3 and let it form the way you think about children. In all your interactions with your spouse and children at home, treat your children as blessings . When you converse with other parents, talk of your children and their children as a gift from God. When you talk with teachers, friends, coworkers, bosses, siblings, and relatives, make it clear that you value children and that you are grateful to God for them. Children are a gift from the LORD. We should encourage this way of thinking in every area of our lives.
By God’s Grace,
Pastor Stephen
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