The Bible teaches that Christians are to sacrifice everything- our time, energy, money, even our bodies, in service to a Worthy God. This isn't something we need to work hard to force ourselves to do; its a natural response of gratefulness to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus first made on our behalf, and is empowered by his Spirit. And though at times these sacrifices may be difficult or even painful, our sacrifices here on earth will have eternal impact and benefits, and ultimately will be something we don't regret.
One of the biggest sacrifices (with the most potential for eternal impact) we women can make in service to Jesus is to become mothers: to bear and raise image-bearers of God for His glory. This is Biblical truth.
But the problem is, that the world is screaming in our ear. The world says to protect your body, so that you will be truly happy. The world says, delay or avoid motherhood so that you don't have to experience the pain of childbirth or give up your freedom or your perfect body (the irony with this fear is that women are delaying child bearing into their mid to late thirties, when the body is least able to recover physically from pregnancy.). And the world is screaming at us so loudly, it is often drowning out the paltry amount of Biblical truth we are allowing ourselves to imbibe on this subject.
The Bible does not say motherhood will be easy. In fact, as a result of the fall, the things the world is saying about motherhood is true: it limits your freedom, it is painful and it will change your body. But in God's economy, these sacrifices are small compared to the reward they will reap. Second Corinthians 4:16-18 puts it this way:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
The Bible paints a picture that sacrifice for the Kingdom of God is eternal, while preserving your body is not. Keeping your perfect body "untainted" by motherhood or keeping your free time open to do whatever you want might be convenient for a few years here on earth, but 100 years from now, this wont be a thought in your mind. Your only concern about life on earth in 100 years will be what kind of eternal impact your life has had.
So ladies, when you are tempted to protect your body, to selfishly keep it to yourself rather than pour it out in service to others or your children, meditate on the body and blood of Christ, shed for you. Think about what Jesus has done by giving his body up for us, and not holding it back. Meditate on scripture (such as those above) about sacrificing your body and living for eternal good. Repent of the transient things you are living for, and ask for an eternal perspective on your life. The only way to overcome the screams of the world is to douse them with the Word of God.
Well said, Sarah. It's incredible the growing number of people who do not want to have kids for so many selfish reasons. Their body, their time, their finances, their changed status quo, the discomfort for 9 months...I am certain that both you and I agree all those things are true (like you said), but not only are they just excuses, they are poor excuses at that. And *most* people who do not want children and ends up having some anyway will find themselves shocked at how it changes their lives and how they love.
ReplyDeleteWe watched the 180 movie this past evening and it just goes to show how incredibly selfish our nation is by and large. Keep these good posts coming, hopefully people will wake up and smell the lies of our society.
Josh