Solomon wrote this Psalm. This is an important piece of information because Solomon had all the resources needed to produce whatever his heart desired. He was not only rich, but he was very wise. If earthly resources and great wisdom were the secrets to success, then Solomon should have been the most successful on earth. Solomon writes to help us with his great wisdom that he learned the hard way.
I had all kinds of questions when I started this Psalm. I will admit to you that I do not have all of them answered, but many have been. I had questions like - Is this Psalm to be applied to all people or just to those who acknowledge God? Are the blessed of God the only ones that should be allowed to sing this Psalm? Does it apply to the unbeliever at all? I had other more difficult questions that will become obvious as we go along.
As I move into this passage, I would like to eliminate some type of houses. Anyone that does nothing or very little to build their household is not being directly talked about in this passage. There is no expectation of anything good coming from a place where no one labors to build. When no one labors, then only rubble can remain. If you were to purchase enough excellent raw materials to build a building and then just lay it in a pile for years, it would deteriorate to a point that nothing of value could be built. The same thing happens to children in homes where parents do not care. If anything, these parents who produce children and neglect them or damage them through abuse are decaying the potential of these wonderful gifts. The only hope for these children is that God would intervene with someone else to raise them or for them to be affected by the Gospel and they become new creations in Christ Jesus. These children are still a heritage from the Lord however, but we will see later that they are certainly not being developed as such.
I personally know of mothers and fathers (and I use those titles loosely) that have had multiple children, had all or most of them taken away for abuse and neglect. I know of mothers and fathers that have damaged their children in ways that for many of you are unimaginable. How are we to view these children? How are we to think about these parents? Are these children to be understood as a heritage from the Lord? Are they a reward from the Lord?
Verse 1 - Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It seems that there are the potential for two types of houses. In both houses, the laborers are trying to build something, but there is only one type of laborer that really produces anything. Let’s look quickly at both.
There are those who build the house on their own. They have their own ideas and use their own strength. They may even be working hard at what they do. They do produce. What they produce does not have any value however. There is really nothing there. They are simply going through the motions.
There are also houses built by God. There are still laborers, but these laborers rely on God. They show up for work and are empowered by God to accomplish what He has planned. This structure is not empty of value. Something is really standing and has the potential to stand with eternal effectiveness.
Then a watchman is mentioned. A watchman was posted on the city wall in a strategic area to keep a constant eye open for anyone who would attack the city. This allowed everyone else to go about their day or sleep in peace. If danger approached, the watchman would sound the alarm and all would rise to the occasion. The earlier the watchman could detect the enemy, the more prepared the city would be. If the enemy was stealthy enough, they could sneak passed the watchman or could quietly eliminate the watchman, then the city would be vulnerable.
Scripture tells us that if the watchman thinks that he sees all and relies on his own power, he is foolish and the city will come to destruction. No one has eyes in the back of their head. No one can remain vigilant all of the time. No matter how wise we are, no matter alert we think we are, there are always those who can catch us off guard.
But the Lord sees all. He can place our gaze in just the right place. He can make us see what is hidden. He can shine a light in the darkness and expose that which is done in secret. The watchman that relies on God is not doing all this in vain, because the eyes of the Lord run to and fro. Satan runs to and fro seeking who he may destroy. If God does not help us, then we are doomed.
Based on what we have learned so far, let’s apply a few things from this verse.
The one who labors empowered by God is directed by God to accomplish what God intends to build. The one who thinks that they are able to produce excellence based on what they personally think is right will find that they have produced nothing of eternal value.
Susan and I wear many hats at The Care Center. One of them would certainly be the role of watchman. We must watch both outside and inside. We try to pay attention to what is going on there, but we cannot see everything and we do not try to see everything. We want to operate on trust even with those who were not trustworthy to begin with. We are trying to build trust into the lives of those that we care for. We realize that people sneak around and do things that are wrong. We have rules, house monitors, etc. If we simply trusted in our ability to bring light to these attempts, then we would fail. God sees all and we expect Him to help us keep watch.
Let’s be clear. This is not God helps those who help themselves, but instead, those who labor according to God’s will are helped by God. This is the same for the church. We do trust God to save the souls of our family, friends, neighbors and indeed the whole world, but we demonstrate this by spreading the Gospel. But if God does not do the work in the hearts of those we share the Gospel with, then nothing is accomplished. We are not the important ones – God is the essential One.
I Corinthians 3:7 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Verse 2 - It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
In this verse there are those who rise up early and go to bed late. The Scriptures are not telling us that we should sleep in late and go to bed early. The issue here is not when to set your alarm or even how many hours of sleep you should plan for. The issue here is how you spend your waking hours. The Scripture tells us that we should toil. We should work. Setting around like a bump on a log is not Biblical. It is sin to make a lifestyle of this lack of productivity. We should work and work as unto the Lord. We were designed to accomplish. Adam was told in his sinless state that he would be the keeper of the garden. Genesis 2:15 states, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Work is not a result of sin. The struggle of work is the result of sin. The cursed ground was the punishment. The curse created more work for mankind in order for him to be productive.
So, this is not a verse that gives the lazy an excuse to sleep all day and do nothing. You are to be productive if you are able. Taking from verse 1, you are to labor and watch. You have a body and a mind. If either body or mind is functioning, then production is expected with the exception of terribly debilitating illness. Do what you are able to do. If you are not productive, then repent and ask God to point out what you can do and ask Him to give you the ability and the drive to do it.
The issue here is that if we labor because we are anxious, then we sin. If we work hard because we are in fear of having nothing or because we are worried about our futures, then we labor in vain. The life of a Christian is one of trust in the Lord. He has promised to meet our needs more than abundantly. We should work hard as unto the Lord and then lay down at night and sleep. Our anxious thought should not keep us awake. Worry should not dictate our lives. We should be able to rest.
Again, let’s apply.
Not only was working a requirement of the early church, but the early church would not help those financially who would not work if they were able. Instead, they would discipline those members who would not be productive. II Thessalonians 3:11-12 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
We are to be free from anxiety. Not because things do not affect us. Christians are human like anyone else, but we are able to cast our cares on someone else who cares for us. There is a rest for the people of God and it is found in faith. There is a contentment found in the care of God. There is a steady sanity in the people of God. Anxiousness dishonors God.
Spurgeon wrote, “Faith brings calm with it and banishes the disturbers who both day and by night murder peace.”
This is not taking God for granted - this is simply faith.
The original language seems to lean toward children being a heritage belonging to the Lord and not simply given from the Lord. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, may be an excellent example of the right attitude here. Remember that she asked the Lord for a son and if He would grant her petition, she would return the son to the service of the Lord.
Children are a great reward. This word reward has more to do with a fare or what is due. I think that the King James Version helps us with its translation. The fruit of the womb is His reward. I do not want to leave the impression that certain people are rewarded with children because they have somehow been good enough or developed correctly. You see, this thought really bothered me. As I mentioned in my opening statements, I know that in our day, more and more children are being born into households that have no intention of raising children to return them to the Lord. As a matter of fact, many have no intentions of exerting much effort to raise them at all. So let’s establish that no one has earned this privilege. God has decided to be gracious to us as people. Without children, the human race would cease to exist. God has created a way for us to procreate. This was not developed in Solomon’s day. This was developed when mankind was created. The Lord told us, as well as all living things, to be fruitful and multiply. Children are living proof that God is still continually causing what He put in motion with Adam and Eve to take place.
Your children were not given to you to do what you want with them. You should be consulting the Lord at every step. We should be preparing them for service to the Lord and His Kingdom. This is required for all children. The requirement is not removed if you are not a Christian. If you are not saved, you will probably find yourself laboring in vain as described in verse 1. But be careful Christian. Many of us think that we are wise and blessed by God and therefore think that we know what we are doing simply because we are Christians. This is not the case. Raising children is very difficult work. Be careful to let God build the house, so that your labor is not in vain as well. All parents are supposed to be preparing their children for the service of God. Parents should be awaiting God to change their child’s heart if He chooses. All of mankind is required to submit to the Lordship of God in Christ.
It does not matter whether you think yourself a good person or not. It does not matter whether you or others think that you would be a good parent or not. No one knows what type of child they will receive from the Lord. Your job as a parent does not change whether you are given an especially gifted child or a special needs child.
Psalm 24:1 1The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
All people, including your children, belong to the Lord. They have been placed in your care. If you have children, then your spiritual life applies to theirs. As we as parents grow in the Lord, then we should be passing on what we have learned to our children. Therefore, their growth should mimic our growth. God’s timing in our growth is not by accident. He knows what those around us need to see or be taught. Is it possible that God causes growth in us so that we might teach this same growth to our children? Of course. We should also understand that much of the maturity that we gain from the Lord comes from dealing with our children. We leave a legacy in our children. And just as a side note, they are also someone to leave things to. I have 2 brothers without children and one has said to me – Who am I going to leave this to.
I think that I must address the issues of abortion, rape conceived children, special needs children, etc. It does not matter how your child was conceived. Some children are conceived during sinful acts, but that does not mean that what is stated to us in Psalm 127 no longer applies. Children of all types are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is still a reward. Children are not to be discarded, neglected, abused, etc. Children are not an inconvenience to your lifestyle. Children are not items to be exploited to fulfill society’s sinful gratification. They are a gracious gift from the Lord for the Lord.
Psalm 139:13-16 applies to all children 13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Don’t forget the lesson we just talked about in verses 1- 3. Again, you are responsible to labor, but if God gave you the children, then God has a way in mind to care for these children. Let me give you a personal family example. When dad was in Seminary, mom and dad were very poor. As a matter of fact, they would purchase 1 ham and 1 large sack of potatoes and that would be the staples for the week. All main meals would revolve around that. Then mom came up pregnant. Of course, dad asked the question about how they were going to care for this little one that was coming. Mom and dad went to the Lord and asked Him to care for their coming attraction. Before their first child was born, almost all of the imperishable things that were needed for this child’s first year of life had been given to them. That is why they named me Nathan – which means “gift”.
I will tell you another story about my mom and dad. I caution you that this story does not apply to all families. It was a prayer that God gave them by faith and they prayed it in faith. There are no guarantees in any household that if you pray this prayer it will come true. It was a gift to my parents and it served them well. All families are different and each family should rely on the Lord for unique faith when it comes to their own household. Now the story. This story has given them rest throughout the years. My dad and mom prayed that the Lord would give them 5 boys of their own. They prayed that they would give birth to children that would become Christians. They could not stand the idea of knowing that one of their children would die and go to Hell. They prayed that if a child of theirs would not be saved, they would rather that it be born dead. My mom and dad had 2 boys, then one boy that was born dead, and then 2 more boys. All 4 of the natural born children are saved and walk with the Lord. They later adopted 2 more boys. When I was out being a crazy, rebellious young man, my parents held fast to the faith that the Lord had given them from the beginning. They rested in the Lord.
Verse 4 - Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
Verse 4 - Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
Arrows are actually older than bows. Arrows were once launched from an atlatis and arrows were only about 6 – 8 inches long. They had flint points. When bows came along, the arrows had to be adapted to the bow and the archer using the bow. The arrows might be long or short, thick or thin depending on the purpose and the mechanism shooting the arrow.
The wood had to be picked carefully and then dried. The wood shrinks as it dries so this must be accounted for. Then one could either straighten the shaft as it dries and/or they could be straightened using wax, a candle, and an arrow wrench. The wax would be applied to the shaft, a candle would apply heat to soften the dried shaft and then the wrench would be applied to the softened shaft for smaller bends and the hand or knee to larger ones. One had to be careful not to apply too much heat because the wood would become brittle. Then the wood should set for 2 weeks and the process begins again if necessary. The nock or groove in the back for the bow string would be added against the grain to prevent splitting. Then one would chose the right feathers, prepare them, and apply them to the shaft. The feathers must be positioned carefully and are 120 degrees around the shaft. The fins on the arrow are called a fletch and thus the name Fletcher. Fletching stabilizes an arrow in flight. It may also place a spin on the arrow to alter how it flies. The arrowhead would then be created and applied to the front of the arrow. Again, there are multiple types depending on usage. The Fletcher would then apply his crest. This was a type of signature that he applied to state that he had indeed created the arrow and that he was proud of his work. The value of an arrow could increase based on whether one was considered a master or not. This whole process could take months.
Arrows have different purposes. There are short range arrows that fly at a high speed and are very deadly such as those shot from a crossbow. There are long range arrows that are fired from longbows. These are used to attack the enemy before it gets within fighting distant thus reducing any risk to the archer.
Please understand – it is NOT all about the arrows. The atlatis or the bow are mechanisms to deliver the weapon. You cannot fire an arrow correctly without a good bow, but it is the arrow that must head towards the target. Bows do not cause any damage – arrows do. Different tools may be used, but the goal is to get the arrow to hit the mark. It does matter what type of parent you are. It does matter what effort that you put in. The arrow, the child stands less of a chance of hitting the mark without the parent doing a good job.
Children of the man’s youth are like arrows to a warrior. Warrior is an important word.
Warriors fight. That is their only purpose. Warriors like good weapons. An arrow allowed the warrior to attack the enemy from afar. The arrows had to fly straight at whatever the archer shot them at. The archer usually had a specific target when the arrow was released from the bow. When the warrior was carrying the arrow around in his quiver, he did not know what the arrow would have been pointed at later, but the warrior knew that there was no sense carrying badly formed arrows. Parents must be warriors. Parents must be like fletchers. They must straighten and form children while they are young. They must take on the job of producing weapons of war for the Kingdom of God. Children left to themselves do not grow up correctly. Children are descendants of Adam and therefore have wicked hearts that if left unguided will become people who pursue things that destroy themselves. Not all arrows hit the mark no matter how great the warrior. And even arrows from a master Fletcher can be altered once they have been released from the master fletcher’s hand. These altered arrows would still bear the crest, but all would know that this is not the way the Fletcher made the arrow originally.
Arrows can be altered both for the good and the bad. An arrow could have produced by a master and even carry his mark, but through mishandling by someone who did not appreciate the quality, the arrow could be ruined. On the other hand, an arrow that was made by a lesser Fletcher could be placed in the hands of a master Fletcher and he could actually produce an arrow that even he would be proud to place his crest on.
Children are much the same. You do not know who your children will turn into when they become adults and I as a parent of adult children will tell you that you cannot be held responsible for their choices. You can only try to produce straight, high quality arrows while you have a chance. Oddly enough, your crest is still on the child to some degree. The quality of your workmanship is called into question when others look at your children just like the arrow is judge when one sees the particular crest of the master Fletcher. Let’s pretend that you did a great job raising your child, but your child becomes altered by an event or simply decides to become rebellious because of the wickedness in their own heart. The child does not heed parental guidance. Consequences pursue them and they turn out to be different than you ever thought was possible. Your usefulness as an arrow can be altered by those who have influence over you. Be careful who or what influences you. Whatever influences, forms you.
Let’s think through some examples together.
What about the person that you are going to marry? One could marry a mate that creates havoc for the home. For instance, if you raise a daughter and she marries a man that does not know the Lord or does not lead his family in the depth of your personal convictions, then she would be under the authority of another and she would be bound by the Scriptures to obey her husband unless he asks her to sin even though he does not produce all that she could be. Many in this church are considering marriage now or in the near future. Be careful who you marry.
What if you raise a son and the son rebels? He makes wrong decisions about his life. He marries but does not take the spiritual leadership of his home seriously. His wife will be affected and his household less than admirable. I remember a young godly couple that received serious pre-marriage counseling and even were discipled through particular areas in the scriptures. The young man agreed with the scriptures, but when he went home to his wife, she argued with him until he not only left the church, but did not walk in what he knew to be true from the scriptures. His family is in danger of placing their own personal opinions over the Word of God. Be careful how you lead your family.
What if your child decides to listen to peer pressure, or is drawn away by the world’s attractions, or simply listens to the foolishness that is bound up in the heart? Can you as a parent change the heart of this adult who was once your child? I ask this in a way that states that a person might always be your child (that is, you gave birth to them and raised them), but they are not your children to form and fashion anymore. They are now adults and they will answer for themselves.
What about children who were not raised by good parents? Are they doomed?
In the same mode of thought, arrows can be made better. I know of parents that get saved in the middle of their child raising years. They become new creations in Christ Jesus and then they must rethink how they have been raising the children. In essence, the children have new parents to raise them. They have been forming the arrows for the entire life of the children, but were not skilled Fletchers. The parents being helped by God to build a different house, now take on the task of altering the arrows to make them usable for the Kingdom.
I will give you another for instance. Lee and Lili are getting ready to adopt a child. This child has had a terrible beginning. Left in the conditions and under the care of those who have the child now, this child will probably end up damaged, if not abused and destroyed by the lifestyle others will push on her. This is only if the child does not die. They have the opportunity to form the arrow differently. I had to consider the idea of adoption very carefully when looking at this text. There are people who the Lord does not bless with children. I do not want them to think that they are without opportunity to form arrows or have a quiver full.
We must labor, but it is not simply the amount of effort and resources placed in the making of our children. We must rely on the Lord’s building and watching. We must shape arrows for war, but the Lord must be the one that meets the needs of each child. We are not allowed to think for one moment that we have what it takes to turn a child into a weapon of war for the Kingdom of God. Our hard work, wealth, wisdom or any strategic plan that is filled with anxiousness and not reliant on God will certainly be found deficient. We are unable to make wealth, create wisdom, turn the hearts of men (or children in this case), etc without the Lord’s supply.
There is the spiritual aspect as well, but I will address that later.
Now, what about this youth statement included in verse 4? Children of one’s youth.
Is it possible that it takes a lifetime to raise a godly man, so God wants you to start early? No! Why the youth statement? Does this mean that old people cannot be warriors or send out high class arrows? Does this mean that people should not have children when they are old? Are the children of old age different than those of your youth?
Children usually are born to men when they are young. Not always such as in the case of Abraham. Abraham was old and Isaac was indeed a blessing to him. This passage does not restrict parents from having children when they are older, but there is an absolute difference in the energy levels between the young and the old. There are always exceptions, but children require a lot of time and energy. Older people usually do not have the strength to manage a quiver full of children.
In our society it is becoming more common to see grandparents raising grandchildren. This is happening as parents become less responsible. Society promotes immoral behavior without having to accept the responsibility of that behavior. There are more children being born out of wedlock, more single parent homes, more men fathering children by multiple women, younger sexual activity and pregnancies caused by child abuse, exposure to immoral parental activity, TV programs, other damaged children, and much more.
We are at war. Kingdoms fight each other and souls are ensnared and must be released by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God changes worthless wood into arrows. The Church is used by God to form these new arrows. The Word of God, The Holy Spirit, and the Church are used to tweak each arrow in order to produce maximum effectiveness. If we are truly saved, God has placed His crest on us because we are works of art made by a Master Craftsman. If a soul is stamped “JESUS”, then what an arrow we have become!
The more that we grow as a people in a close community, the better we should become at helping each other understand what the Bible tells us about families and children. The more children are raised in a caring group of people, the better opportunity they have to have great marriages. The more stable the marriage, the better chance the parents have of raising stable children. Then those children grow up in a better position than we were. This is a generational problem to solve. Wise children can become wise parents. They should want to pass on the wisdom they received to their children and also add to that wisdom causing each generation to become wiser. The craftsmanship of the arrow maker could be passed down from generations and each could become better than the next. The more we pray for the salvation of our children, talk to each other about solid family values, help each other solve the problems that come with children, the old pass on to the young, etc., interact generationally with each other’s children – then the greater chance we have of fashioning arrows that obviously are groomed to be returned to the Lord. Just because you are older and you are done raising your children does not release you from helping those in the church raise their children. The skills learned in trying to raise children can be passed on. The endurance in the midst of struggle can be valuable to someone else. The lessons learned from doing it correctly and the lessons learned from doing it wrongly are both valuable. You are not released just because you are older.
If the church is one of the great tools that the Lord has given to cause us to persevere in our faith, then certainly the church is to aid us in the production of great family units. The church is not a substitute for godly parents, but certainly must be considered as terribly important in the process. You see, as a husband I choose a church that I believe is good for me and my wife. I consider this an essential part of leading my household. When I had children at home, I tried to follow the leading of the Lord then as well. Part of raising children is to allow the right people of the church to influence both you and your children. A healthy church community is essential.
Verse 5a - Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
Children add to a home. When children are not present, the house is always prim and proper, but little new life. Susan and I have grown children. We have grandchildren. When they come over, the house is transformed. Toys appear. Sometimes a session of cartoons is watched. The crayons come out. The imaginary world of race cars, motorcycles, monster trucks, dolls, nail polish, and wearing Nana’s shoes roar to life. I know, I know – the mess of fingerprints all over the place, smelly diapers, endless wondering what they are in to now also goes on as well. I wish to explain this part of verse 5 in the application.
Blessed in the man who fills his quiver with these arrows. Not just filled with arrows. Be careful, the Bible is not telling us to have many kids, but rather have children matching your quiver and produce excellent arrows as much as it is in your ability. Just like an archer would feel blessed with a large amount of these high quality arrows, the man is to feel the same way about his well fashioned children. How difficult would it be for an archer to hit the mark with arrows that are bent, missing a fletch, or without an arrowhead. So we are not simply talking about many children for the sake of having children. An archer is not more proud if he carries many bad arrows. He would rather have fewer well formed arrows and trust that they will hit the mark. The quiver is to be filled with the arrows that were carefully shaped with purpose. The man wants to fill his quiver with arrows marked by the best crest. This man is an arrow maker and is proud of what he has produced. The arrows that he has produced have purpose and anyone can tell what the designer had in mind when he fashioned them. Not all arrows hit the mark, but the intent was there.
There are those who do not have children in their marriage. It is important to note that it is good to have a quiver full of well constructed arrows, not just twigs with feathers on one end and pointed rocks on the other. This does not make an effective arrow. In this case, less is more.
What about those without kids? Are they not blessed? That does not necessarily mean that. They are not blessed with children, but the pronouncement of a particular blessing in Scripture is not necessarily a lack of a blessing. For instance, one who does not have the blessing of a mate at this point in their life has the blessing of having an undivided devotion to the Lord. Children are not the only blessing from the Lord. A quiet life is a blessing. Not having a quiver allows investment in the Kingdom in other ways. Having a small quiver is not a sin either. In war, snipers carry little ammunition because they are careful to hit the mark each time.
Verse 5b - He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
He shall not be put to shame if he labors well – no matter how the children turn out. There does seem to be some place for thinking that carefulness pays dividends. There is some thought here that when an old man sits among the brethren and talks that he will have something wise to say and he will be able to be consulted by those younger than he. There seems to be a place for him that he will not be ashamed of himself when his children are spoken of.
Even if the child becomes wayward, those at the gate will not blame it on the parent, but rather on the unwise choices of the child.
Interestingly enough, the man is spoken well of by his enemies. In many wars, soldiers have celebrated the death of a good soldier. At times, when an exceptional soldier dies, the opposition will stop and honor him because he fought well.
What a gang. Nice to have so many to gather around when things need done or when protection is necessary. I remember a Christmas shopping trip with my dad up north. My mom and dad have 6 boys. The 3 of the 4 older boys were all together up north during the Thanksgiving Holiday. We decided to be crazy and go to the early morning shopping that Walmart offers at 5:00 AM the day after Thanksgiving. There were some incredible deals and we decided to brave the cold, wait outside for the doors to open and then rush to the bounty that awaited us. I had what I wanted quickly and so I got a place in the long line at the checkout. Dad was coming next, but still trying to get what he wanted. The other brothers were shortly behind Dad. Dad was trying to make his way toward the place in line and the other brothers were right behind dad, but separated by a few people. Some man in his 30s decided to give our dad a hard time while dad was making his way through the crowd. All of us brothers were keeping an eye out for our father in this mad house of people and we saw this man bothering our father who was in his late 60s at the time. (After talking to my dad at a later time, dad said that he told the man that he was making a mistake.) The man gave our father a little shove to get to what he was after. I said loudly and in a way that announced my presence – Dad are you alright? By this time, the man saw 3 men with unhappy looks on their faces headed toward our dad. The man instantly realized that a gang of men who resemble each other and resembled the man that he had just bothered were headed his direction from multiple sides and that we were all intent on taking care of this old man. He quickly stopped bothering our dad and moved to another part of the store.
Children can become a parent’s strength. My son is respectful of his father and mother. He takes on some of the heavy work for both me and my dad (his grandfather). This benefits our wives as well. Josh found out that his grandfather needed his roof replaced. I was going to be out of town, but several of my brothers were going to be in town to help with the work. They were raised like me to be people who work hard. I raised my children to work hard as well. Joshua took his vacation to help roof my dad and mom’s house. My dad and my brothers made a point to tell me how hard Joshua had worked and how very proud they were of him. This is not a singular incident with Joshua. He works hard and helps around the house when asked. He often does things without being asked. My brothers and my son made a strong team that accomplished much in a short period of time.
I tell you these stories to help you understand that a large family that has been raised for the Lord can accomplish much in both the physical and the spiritual world. I have given you some physical examples, but we will discuss the spiritual next.
You bear the Master’s crest. Fly straight. You must hit the mark. How you fly speaks of your Maker and of your relationship with Him.
1. As a Christian, live empowered by God. He is building a bride for His Son.
2. Demonstrate your trust in God’s ability to save by spreading the Gospel.
3. Work as unto the Lord while resting in His care.
4. Spread the Gospel, but don’t rely on your own efforts to see the lost saved. The Lord must build the house – the Lord gives life – the Lord changes hearts. There are those who believe that salvation is a direct result of their efforts. They preached with vigor, give extended alter calls pleading with the souls of men, send out missionaries to simply evangelize, etc. They do this because they think that if they work harder at spreading the Gospel, then more will be saved. I agree that we should preach with great passion, plead with the souls of men, send out missionaries to evangelize all the earth, etc. What the Scripture teaches us is that we should do this in obedience and gratefulness. We do know that the Lord will save. He will save from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation. He will give us fruit as we share the Gospel. We are not to panic. We are not to be anxious. We are to be at peace.
5. Christians do what is required of them with an understanding that they were called and empowered by God to do what they do. God both builds and keeps His church with great care.
6. When God sends spiritual children into your life, then remember that they are not yours. They are God’s kids. Raise them to live in relationship with Him.
6. When God sends spiritual children into your life, then remember that they are not yours. They are God’s kids. Raise them to live in relationship with Him.
8. Trust in the Lord when it comes to caring for His children. We, the church, are entrusted with the perseverance and growth of the saints. We must believe that God cares for us more than we care for each other. He has not only already given us all things that we need for live and godliness as individuals, but that care certainly carries over to the church.
9. Remember that arrows can be altered. Your usefulness as a child of God can be altered by those that influence you. Whatever influences you, forms you. Don’t be conformed to the world, be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Interact with the Word of God and godly people. Talk to God. Be careful what you expose yourself to that comes from the world.
10. We are all in the business of arrows or in this case – God’s children. The spreading of the Gospel, disciplining of Christians, serving the people of God, etc is to be done by all Christians. Do not think that this is the job of only the mature in Christ.
11. The church is a group that should be getting better as we walk together. We should be more unified, more sanctified, more intelligent in the Scriptures, better servants because we have practiced serving, better at praying for one another because we know each other better, better at producing stable marriages and so on. The same idea should apply to the church. We are disciple makers and we should get better with each group of disciples. This is very much lost in our churches today.
12. Concerning spiritual children. Try to have a large quiver. Being able to point to many disciples of high quality is the mark of a spiritual Fletcher. Spend your life making spiritual arrows – whether they were born to you or not. Fill your spiritual quiver with lots of quality arrows. How many have you invested in? How many have you helped grow up into Christ? Who are you investing in right now?
13. A person may not have any children on earth, but there is no excuse for not being involved in the raising of spiritual children. It is God that gives the increase, but He will use you if you are willing. Just ask God for some opportunities and find out how fast He starts pointing you in the right direction. Trust me, if you want to grow, then get involved helping someone else to grow.
14. There is strength in numbers. A large group gets much done when organized by the father. It is difficult for a small group of people to raise spiritual children. Just think about the difficulty for a church that has only one pastor and that pastor is required to “do it all”. The Elders at Cornerstone find it very comforting to have 3 Elders to share the load and we rely on that care not only for you, but for ourselves as well. Each of the Elders at Cornerstone has 2 pastors. Then if we add to the group the care that you have covenanted to give each other, we are many in number. Isn’t it wonderful to receive such love? If you are not receiving this love, then get plugged in. Become a part. You cannot spend your Christianity on the outskirts and expect to be receiving the benefits of those who are laboring and living together. If you are trying to spend your time on the outskirts to avoid such closeness, then you are sinning and depriving yourself of the life that God has for you. We are a family.
This is a good place to come to the table. Here is the reminder of our empowerment. Here is the reminder of how God intends to build the house. Here is God watching out for us even before we knew that we needed the help. Here is the reminder that you and I are not in this alone. Here is the reminder that we are blood relatives - family. Here is the reminder that we are responsible for each other.