The purpose of marriage (2) - the need for godly offspring

              According to Malachi 2:15, the second purpose of marriage is the blessing of godly offspring: “Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his.  And why one?  Because he was seeking godly offspring.  So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”  Nowadays, the young people say that they do not want to have children.  I think there are many reasons.  And I think one of the reasons is economic reasons.  Although many old people say that when you give birth to a child, you can raise the child.  But I don’t think that’s what the young people think.  Another reason is because it is difficult to raise the child.  If you have only one or two children, it is too hard for the mothers to give birth to another child.  But one of my friends who has two sons doesn’t want another child even though his wife wants to have another child.  So it’s not only the women who do not want any more children but the men as well.  Another reason, I heard, is that some young couples do not want to have any children because of their selfishness.  I think it is dumbfounded behavior.  I heard that there are couples who do not give birth to a baby in order not to suffer the trouble of child rearing while the couple is comfortable in having fun time.  I think this is immature thought and behavior.  I wonder how those couple who desperately want to have a baby but cannot will respond to those couple who do not want to have baby for their own selfish reasons.  I am sure there are more reasons why many couples do not have children.  But one thing we should keep in mind is what does God says about it.  When we look at Malachi 2:15, the Bible clearly says that God wants us to have a godly offspring.  Here, we should consider two things about the needs for godly offspring which is the second purpose of marriage.

First, we have to have children.

Of course, I do not think a number concept is important.  I think that it is irresponsible for the couple to give birth to children without any measures because God said to 'multiply' (Gen. 9:7).  If they think that it is biblical to have lots of children but the husband cannot afford to raise them financially, then I doubt that whether the couple is obeying the Scripture that says be multiply or not (v. 9).  If the couple has one child because of their situation where they can only have one child, I do not think we can say that they disobey God's word.  That’s why here I want to ask one serious question.  Many young couples seem to be unable to give a birth more than one child because of work, study and other situations that they are in.  It is true that it is never easy to have more than one child when the couple is studying (My wife and I also had first son when she was a graduate student.  And when I was a student, she had two more daughters).  At that time, the couple is very worried.  I am sure they cannot help but think that there will be obstacles in their studying and future jobs.  That’s why so many couples seem to have a one child so that they can focus their studies and their future career.  At that time, I think that we need to think and pray seriously about what God’s will is and determine to follow His will.  Of course, I do not think there is an command in the Bible to give birth to more than one child.  Of course, I am sure they are some who think that they should have more than one child by applying the Genesis statement of “be fruitful and increase in number” (Gen. 9:7), but I do not agree.  I do not think that the life God has given to us is not depend on the quantity of child, whether one or ten.  The important thing is to have a baby.  I think that a couple who purposely do not give birth has sinned.

Second, we have to have "godly" children.

The birth of a child is miracle and the grace of God.  But the responsibility of nurturing the child according to God’s will is more difficult and more responsible than the birth.  If marriage is the realization of how difficult it is to love your wife as the Bible says, it is more difficult to be responsible for bringing up the child in the way that the Lord wants.  As a husband to my wife and a father to my three children, I cannot help but pray to God because I desperately need His help in fulfilling my duties as husband and father.  How hard it is to be a godly father in order to raise my three children to become godly children.  But I think this is also an opportunity.  This is also good opportunity for me to be more devoted to the example of godliness in order to nurture my children as godly children of God.  I personally think that my wife and I are missionaries.  And our mission field is our home.  We as the missionary couples are responsible for evangelizing and nurturing the three children in the mission field that is our home.  As the Lord’s stewards, my wife and I have a responsibility to nurture the three children with His Word who are entrusted to us while our couple is here in this world.  Of course, it is true that it will help the biological growth of the church, but we have a responsibility to raise our three children as Christ-centered visionary leaders and send them away into this world to expand the kingdom of God.  This is our heavy responsibility.  However, God has helped us all along and bought us thus far.  And I believe that God will continue to do so so that we may be faithful in fulfilling in raising godly children by His grace.

The Bible Malachi 2:15 teaches that we as the children of God should have child and we have responsibility to raise him or her as godly child according to God's will.  But we are living in the age of challenging the second purpose of marriage.  Our faith is being tested.  To pass this test, we must humbly obey God’s word of Malachi 2:15.