By Stephen Tan
The thought of having a baby sounds like a great commitment to young parents today. I have been going around giving financial advice to my young clients and when it comes to the question of when to have a baby, many like to delay having one. The typical reasons are, “I want to be financially stable before having a baby,” or “I wish to have my own car and property before having a baby.”
It sounds like a wise decision but interestingly, there are many people who start a family without fulfilling this criterion. There is no right or wrong answer here but it is a blessing from God to have a baby.
When my nephew Evan joined the family, I remember the joy he brought to the family. Every move he made can be more entertaining than any TV drama. My sister has been putting a lot of effort and love into adjusting her lifestyle to meet the demands of caring for a baby. She shed tears sometimes because of the various challenges, but in spite of everything, she insists on giving the best to her baby boy.
This parental love reminds me of God’s love towards us. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11).
This scripture shows the resemblance of mother’s love to God’s love. Why do I say that? Well, what does the baby do in order to deserve such good treatment? Nothing, but cry and poo a lot! What did man do in order to deserve Christ to die for us? Nothing, but false accusations against Him and betrayal from His disciples!
Sometimes, I really wonder if it is worth sacrificing so much for someone who doesn’t deserve it. A baby may grow up and hurt the mother by not appreciating her and demanding more from her. “Why my friends got, I don’t have?” “Why my friends can, I can’t?” And when the argument goes against the desire of the child, he may end up saying “I hate you!” It’s really sad, but these situations are happening around us.
Similarly, man reacts the same way towards God. In this materialistic world, the propaganda of covetousness means that when others have something, you must have it too. The enjoyment of life has become the new definition of success. And when we can’t enjoy like others, we like to ask God why. Where is God in our lives? Some of us curse God when outcomes go against us. And then we continue to labour more in order to achieve the enjoyment of life.
The love of the mother has always been for the best for her child, and she is willing to reward the child when obedience is met. Likewise, God our Father wishes the best for mankind and is willing to bless us if we obey. Jesus affirmed this by saying in Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
As Christians, we ought to know the will of God. Our direct command from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; (Matt 6:19-21) 19 do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I beseech you brethren that we don’t forget our first love towards God which was what happened to the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2). We shall not be spoilt children of God who doesn’t know how to show gratitude and continue to demand more for our own desires, but we should look into areas that we can serve and grow the kingdom of God together. It is time that we commit ourselves to become teachers and evangelists (Heb 5:12-14).
Babies can start eating solid food after six months and at the age of three, he can start eating pretty much any normal food like an adult. Likewise, a Christian should be able to start teaching and preaching just like the apostles who went through only three years of mentorship under Jesus Christ. We shall not let the love of God be in vain.