Many friends, family, and even some Christian’s act shocked when we tell them we have 5 children!! Which is understandable with today’s worldview, so we thought it would be a good idea to explain why we believe the way we do in a short post.
We believe that God has called us to let Him determine our family size. God says in Ps 127: 3-5 that children are a blessing (a gift, a reward). Each child that is born or even just conceived in this world has a chance to be with Christ for eternity! What a wonderful opportunity we have to give that to each of our children. They have a chance to have a relationship with Christ and make a difference for Him in this world!
It says in Ps 127: 5 “How Joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! We are to be joyful to have children. Mark 9: 36-37 Jesus welcomed the children and said that if we welcome a little child on His behalf we are welcoming Him!
Is it difficult and hard to raise several children – you bet! But, life isn’t about ones self, nor being entertained all the time. It’s about serving others and seeking His will for our lives. If each and every life is made in His image and has a special purpose on this earth, then who am I to determine my families size – really! Am I telling God no to the next Benjamin Franklin or George Washington? The older we get the more we realize it’s not wise to tell God no.
Some Historical Perspective:
George Washington was the fifth of ten children
Benjamin Franklin was the eighth of ten children (plus step bothers and sisters)
Jonathan Edwards was the eleventh of eleventh
Dietrich Bonhoffer was the eighth
Charles Finney was the seventh
Dwight L Moody was sixth of eight
Corrie ten Boom was the fifth
In the book “A Full Quiver” by Rick and Jan Hess it dedicates a whole chapter (Guess who’s Not coming to dinner) to this point and list hundreds of more examples. We highly recommend this book to anyone seeking the truth on this subject.
As for how we will provide for all these children, God has shown His provisions many times to us already. He tells us that we are not to worry and that He already knows what we need and that if we seek Him and His Kingdom first, He will give us everything we need (Luke 12: 22-34). Also, in Psalms chap 107: 38-43 He tells us that He blesses His people and that they will raise large families and will increase in their herds of livestock. That when oppression, trouble and sorrow come, the Lord will rescue the poor from trouble and increase their families like flocks of sheep! It says the godly will see and be glad and the wicked will be struck silent! He says in the end of this passage that “the wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord”.
So that is some of why we believe what we believe in having the children God wants us to have not what we want. Not our wills, but His will be done.
See below for some other helpful resources regarding this subject.
Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell
A Full Quiver by Rick and Jan Hess
Duggars 20 and Counting
aboverubies.org
