“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”
- Psalm 127:3-5
Having a family is a wonderful thing, but it’s not just something that married couples decide to do. Believe it or not, it’s not all up to us as to how this goes. The Psalmist says here that it is God who gives us this opportunity. Indeed, it’s something that God allows us, as individuals, to share.
Children are a heritage from the Lord, they are a tremendous blessing that God has blessed us with. If we will raise our children in a godly manner, training them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD (Ephesians 6:4), those children will be a further blessing to us. Parents who give themselves to raising children in the Lord, will in general, see their children as a heritage from the Lord.
My wife and I, even before we were married, we had discussed our goals, and our purpose, that when we got married, if the Lord blessed us with children, no matter how many children we would have … regardless of what they would grow up to do in regards to their vocations, and where they will live, and if they get married and have children of their own… no matter what, we are going to put forth every effort to see that they choose Jesus Christ and walk in His light - that is our chief objective as parents.
Some of my children aren’t yet to the age where they are ready to make that decision, but I can tell you that they are already like arrows that we have shot out into the world. I am far from being a “perfect” parent. I’ve made many mistakes and will probably make more, though I strive not to. But whatever my children achieve, it will be, in part, a result of the time, attention, and care that is given to having a right relationship with God.
We can’t overemphasize the importance of rearing our children to know the Lord, and to be productive in His kingdom. Those children, as the Psalmist describes, are going to be a “defense,” an answer to the man who stands in the gate. The enemy (the world) will make the charge that we have wasted our lives, but Solomon says, “your children are like a quiver full of arrows.” They are a testimony against anyone who opposes the cause of Jesus Christ.