Children Are On Loan From God
Purchasing a house, typically, requires a bank loan. Yet, before receiving the needed credit, a contractual agreement is required. As in any other bank advance, this accord will compel repayment with interest. (It is the way of business; an investor seeks profit from investments.) Before agreeing to the advance, however, vigilant analysis is a must for understanding the stipulations of the loan. Similarly, with God, having a child needs a loan agreement.
Think of God as the, one-and-only, Child Shareholder – He not only owns the store but, also, the bank. Remember, a financier seeks a profit from investing. In the same way, parents make a promissory note for this brand-new life and The Shareholder seeks His profits in return – a godly soul. Imagine if mankind met directly with the Child Banker before taking out the baby loan? My guess is that there would be no fine print of legal jargon at the end of the contract; rather, very large print spelling out God’s expectation. YOUR CHILD IS ON LOAN FROM GOD FOR TEMPORARY USE AND THE GIVER OF THE LOAN SEEKS REPAYMENT WITH INTEREST – BANKRUPTCY IS FROWNED UPON. I imagine more parents would take their task much more earnestly? I believe there would be less out-of-wedlock lifestyles. I suppose that fewer people would destroy the asset they have been given charge of. Anybody want to disagree?
Recently, my wife and I had our fourth child – a beautiful, baby girl. She is a holy treasure from heaven as is our entire prodigy. As parents, we recognize the truth that our offspring belong to Another. We don’t own our children nor do we treat them as commodities to be bought, sold, or trafficked; rather, we highly revere the responsibility that comes with training them en route for a reunification with their true Parent – God (Proverbs 22:6, 15; 29:15). It shouldn’t matter whether a parent’s child is a boy or a girl, dark or light, healthy or with medical issues; ultimately, all children belong to the Creator and we should treat them as such (John 9:1-3). “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13-14).
So, what does God think about these valuable souls that help make up a family? “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!” (Psalm 127:3-5a). Sadly, how many family units are not as God planned them to be? How many parents choose unnatural lifestyles for the natural (Romans 1-3)? Where is the longing for godliness (1 Timothy 4:8; 5:4; 6:6-7; 2 Peter 1)? How many people do you know that would rather look at pornography and read lewd “romance” novels rather than study the Bible which gives direction in godliness (2 Timothy 2:15)? How many parents do you know that would rather impress upon their young a love of sports over a love of God (1 Timothy 6:9-12)? How many parents choose to teach their children to lie, steal, cheat, and manipulate (1 John)? Is this the type of parent that seeks to pay back their loan from God with interest or would they rather ruin their exclusive responsibility for squalid gain? Sadly, wicked parents, all around the world, choose not to follow the contract between the created parent and the Creator Parent (Matthew 25:14-46; John 3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 3:1-3).
Our American social order is permeated with those who would snub responsibility for their own conduct: parents, children, old, and young. Yet, all people must bear in mind that children do grow up and they ought to take a role of individual accountability (Romans 1:30; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; 2 Timothy 3:2). There comes a time in every person’s existence when they can no longer fault others for personal misconduct; especially, spiritual misconduct. As liable as parents need to be toward their Lender so does the young person who should be, and is, accountable for their own life choices. Parenting is hard and the payment schedule is great but, ultimately, you are not anyone’s savior. Only obedient faith in Jesus can eternally save another (Acts 24:24-25; Romans 1:8; Galatians 3:26; 1 Peter 3:21; Revelation 14:12). All people, yes – even your children, still are responsible to God for their adult decisions. Many will fall away for a variety of reasons (Luke 8:11ff; Hebrews 3:11-13). Keep your trust in the Lord, send them in the right direction early on in life, and pray for your and their steadfastness and, if need be, their repentance toward God and His desired lifestyle for mankind (Acts 20:21; Jude). “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Remember, children are on loan from God.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Think of God as the, one-and-only, Child Shareholder – He not only owns the store but, also, the bank. Remember, a financier seeks a profit from investing. In the same way, parents make a promissory note for this brand-new life and The Shareholder seeks His profits in return – a godly soul. Imagine if mankind met directly with the Child Banker before taking out the baby loan? My guess is that there would be no fine print of legal jargon at the end of the contract; rather, very large print spelling out God’s expectation. YOUR CHILD IS ON LOAN FROM GOD FOR TEMPORARY USE AND THE GIVER OF THE LOAN SEEKS REPAYMENT WITH INTEREST – BANKRUPTCY IS FROWNED UPON. I imagine more parents would take their task much more earnestly? I believe there would be less out-of-wedlock lifestyles. I suppose that fewer people would destroy the asset they have been given charge of. Anybody want to disagree?
Recently, my wife and I had our fourth child – a beautiful, baby girl. She is a holy treasure from heaven as is our entire prodigy. As parents, we recognize the truth that our offspring belong to Another. We don’t own our children nor do we treat them as commodities to be bought, sold, or trafficked; rather, we highly revere the responsibility that comes with training them en route for a reunification with their true Parent – God (Proverbs 22:6, 15; 29:15). It shouldn’t matter whether a parent’s child is a boy or a girl, dark or light, healthy or with medical issues; ultimately, all children belong to the Creator and we should treat them as such (John 9:1-3). “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13-14).
So, what does God think about these valuable souls that help make up a family? “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!” (Psalm 127:3-5a). Sadly, how many family units are not as God planned them to be? How many parents choose unnatural lifestyles for the natural (Romans 1-3)? Where is the longing for godliness (1 Timothy 4:8; 5:4; 6:6-7; 2 Peter 1)? How many people do you know that would rather look at pornography and read lewd “romance” novels rather than study the Bible which gives direction in godliness (2 Timothy 2:15)? How many parents do you know that would rather impress upon their young a love of sports over a love of God (1 Timothy 6:9-12)? How many parents choose to teach their children to lie, steal, cheat, and manipulate (1 John)? Is this the type of parent that seeks to pay back their loan from God with interest or would they rather ruin their exclusive responsibility for squalid gain? Sadly, wicked parents, all around the world, choose not to follow the contract between the created parent and the Creator Parent (Matthew 25:14-46; John 3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 3:1-3).
Our American social order is permeated with those who would snub responsibility for their own conduct: parents, children, old, and young. Yet, all people must bear in mind that children do grow up and they ought to take a role of individual accountability (Romans 1:30; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; 2 Timothy 3:2). There comes a time in every person’s existence when they can no longer fault others for personal misconduct; especially, spiritual misconduct. As liable as parents need to be toward their Lender so does the young person who should be, and is, accountable for their own life choices. Parenting is hard and the payment schedule is great but, ultimately, you are not anyone’s savior. Only obedient faith in Jesus can eternally save another (Acts 24:24-25; Romans 1:8; Galatians 3:26; 1 Peter 3:21; Revelation 14:12). All people, yes – even your children, still are responsible to God for their adult decisions. Many will fall away for a variety of reasons (Luke 8:11ff; Hebrews 3:11-13). Keep your trust in the Lord, send them in the right direction early on in life, and pray for your and their steadfastness and, if need be, their repentance toward God and His desired lifestyle for mankind (Acts 20:21; Jude). “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Remember, children are on loan from God.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Article published on April 1, 2011 at The Idalou Beacon in Idalou, Texas
Published in the blog "The Lord's Humbled" on March 29, 2011
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