The Value of a Child
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
The Value of a Child
By Michael E. Brooks
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Ps. 127:3).
When my elder daughter, Kim, was in college she
accompanied me on a mission trip to Parimaribo,
Suriname. After arrival and check-in on the first
afternoon she and I, with a few of our group, went
out on the streets of the city to stretch our legs
and take stock of this new environment. A few
blocks from the hotel, as we passed a group of men
standing and talking to one another, a hand
reached out and took hold of Kim's arm and a young
man smiled and asked me, "what will you take for
her?" I smiled back and calmly replied, "I believe
I will keep her, thank you." Without further
incident we continued our walk.
I still don't know how serious the young man may
have been. Perhaps he was only joking. But perhaps
not. One thing is certain; I never had to make the
father–daughter "be careful, don't go anywhere
alone" speech on that trip. No, two things are
certain. Even if he was serious, no amount of
money could have separated Kim from me.
Negotiations were never begun because they were
irrelevant and immaterial.
I doubt that I have to persuade many readers of
how serious I am in saying that, or how true it
is. We love our children. Nothing is as important
to us. They are not for sale, and their needs come
before any other consideration. We say these
things, and for the most part we mean them. Yet,
do our actions always demonstrate those
convictions?
We will buy things for our children, even when we
cannot really afford them, and perhaps when the
children don't really have to have what we are
purchasing. We give in to their demands, spoiling
them both in little things and also sometimes in
more significant ways. All this is a sign of our
love for them, and of their value to us.
But do we always provide for their genuine needs?
We give them our money, but do we also give them
our time and attention? Are not these far greater
needs? We provide for their meals and their
education, but do we "bring them up in the
training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4)?
They wear the latest fashions, but are they
spiritually adorned (1 Tim. 2:9)?
Perhaps it is time for us to remember that our
children do not belong to us alone, but also to
God who gave them. They have great value in his
eyes, just as they do in ours. Jesus warned,
"Whoever receives one little child like this
receives me. But whoever causes one of these
little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be
better for him if a millstone were hung around his
neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea"
(Matt. 18:5-6).
Our children are a great blessing. But they are
also a great responsibility. We must be as careful
with their souls as we are their physical safety.
And we must be attentive to all their needs,
especially those of a spiritual nature.
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