No Kids - Is that how you feel?

I'm in the kid business and spend most of my time helping kids achieve their goals and prepare for a full life of success.  I'm also a dad, so I invest thousands of hours into discipling my children and building a mega-memory bank of family times.  It's all good!  I mean it!  I couldn't have chosen a better life, if I had planned it out!  Fortunately, God planned it for me!  I really kind of just fell into this!  Would I have had the foresight to plan it this great?  Maybe not...  Which brings me to a pretty serious blog post: What if you don't want to have kids?  You don't but your spouse does...  what then?

If this is you, what you are experiencing is a product of very modern, American thinking.  You do what you feel comfortable with.  Or, you do what makes most intellectual sense to you.  We watch movies to escape this cultural prison... and some of us invest in weekend hobbies.

I am contending today that you probably don't have the right to choose not to have children.  Yes, having children is not for the weak because kids change the single life-style.  But, having kids brings depth to life that single couples can't even grasp at.  (I say you don't have the right because Christians are slaves and servants to  God.) 

Biblically, the creation mandate is to produce children and subdue the earth.  Yeah, yeah... outdated.  Is it?  And, we all know the full quiver verse.  Or, the children are God's blessing passage.  But, let me go just a little deeper.

Here are a few quick thoughts for you to ponder:

• Children fulfill the calling of a wife.  The infamous Proverbs 31 woman is defined by her work as a mother and a wife.
• Discipleship: A powerful part of being a light in this dark world is to train up children to extend the kingdom of Jesus and reflect the glory of Jesus in this dark world.  What will your legacy be? 
• Crucify the Flesh: Does your spouse want children?  Part of a spouse's right is to have access to your body, which includes the ability to reproduce.  Can't have children?  Are you willing to sacrifice your flesh to serve your spouse and raise children?
• Fear: Most of us have seen only ill-behaved kids that are in general irritating and obnoxious.  So, it is natural to fear having those unholy terrors in our own peaceful houses.  Biblical child training produces just the opposite!  Cool kids that are fun to explore life with.
• Joy!  Don't let fear determine your future joy.  God had incredible blessings in store for parents who Biblically train up their children in the Lord!

For the wrap up, let me just say this...  why not kids?