Worldview Everlasting

Thank you for asking this question. More people need to be considering
these questions, not from a worldly perspective, but a Scriptural
approach.

Anytime one asks a question inquiring an answer that is measurable,
the question and its answer will always be that of the Law. Why? The
Law measures things. The Law is a finite standard by which something
is compared. For instance, 10 Commandments measure our life before God
and our neighbor. They measure how much we love God and our neighbor.
How much are we to love God? “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
So the answer is, with everything we are. How often do I need to
listen to my parents? “Honor your father and your mother.” So all the
time.

To answer your serious and honest question we need to consider how the
Lord views the family. What better place to begin than the beginning.
Genesis 1 & 2 paint for us a glorious picture of perfection, a world
as God intended. In that creation God created man perfect, in His very
own image. We also have recorded there the gracious instruction to “be
fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” I say gracious instruction,
because procreation is a gift from God. Before the fall into sin,
nothing was a burden. Everything was a joy, including receiving God’s
Word.

Now, the gracious instruction to “be fruitful and multiply and fill
the earth” also has attached to is the instruction to “subdue it [the
earth] and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds
of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
This would include man himself. Man is to use his reason and intellect
in managing the creation, which God had given him at his creation.

We can no longer reason as Adam first did. The fall into sin utterly
destroyed man’s ability to reason without selfish ambition. Everything
man does is now bound by sin. The creation is broken by his
disobedience, which means that life will no longer be easy and as
joyful as it was before the fall into sin.

After the Fall, man’s reason and intellect are always driven inward.
The perfect, sacrificial, self-giving love we are to have toward
others is now turned toward ourselves and what we desire. Because of
this we so often approach life with ourselves in mind and not so much
others.

Does this mean we are never able to do what is right? Yes and No. Yes,
we will never be able to make the perfect, reasonable decision that
always acts for the benefit of the neighbor. Yet the answer is also,
no. We are able to do what is right in repentant faith, as revealed to
us in God’s Holy Word. So the only way we can do the right thing is to
1.) Recognize our utter inability to do anything good, right and
salutary, as revealed to us by God’s Law, which is found written on
our hearts and given to us in the 10 Commandments. 2.) We confess our
sin in view of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which guarantees
forgiveness of sins, life and salvation to all who believe it. 3.) We
receive Christ’s forgiveness through the Word preached and the
Sacraments administered. 4.) We live in Christ’s forgiveness in God’s
kingdom in faith toward Him and fervent love toward one another. 4.)
Repeat, without ceasing.

This is how every baptized believer is to approach life. We always
rest in Jesus at the foot of His cross.

This being said, “To what extent, if any, should finances play when
planning a family?” Certainly, finances should be considered, but in
what way. Should finances prohibit married couples from having a
family? I strongly believe they should not. Why? 1.) Children are a
blessing from the Lord. 2.) We are to “be fruitful and multiply.” 3.)
The Lord provides all that we need in this body and life. 4.) We can
live on a lot less than the culture leads us to believe.

We have preached into our ears by the prevailing culture that we must
live a certain type of lifestyle. We are told we need all the
amenities we have come to enjoy – TV, Gaming Systems, personal
computers, personal cell phones and the latest styles in fashion. To
obtain this lifestyle, we are told from a young age we can only have
2, maybe 3 children. Unfortunately, many Christians have bought into
this mentality. Which in turn has affected the Church and the number
of souls that are brought up in the faith. (But that is a topic for
another email.)

“To what extent should one plan [a family]? I have found out that
making plans about a family usually don’t turn out the way one imaged.
We certainly do not dismiss our reason as instructed by the Word of
God. Yet, we look to Him to bless us abundantly in our various
vocations, including parenthood. In the holy estate of marriage
spouses love one another reflecting the love of God. As God is a
community of loving persons, so the one flesh union is a community of
loving persons. As God loves He creates and sustains all things. As a
loving couple within marriage, we mimic the loving act of God by
procreating.

One will be surprised by what they can live with and without. The love
of God though Jesus Christ is a blessing that covers our multitude of
sins, including our greed, covetousness and idolatry. In the end there
is only one thing needful – Jesus Christ crucified for you. Trust in
Him and all will be well with you. That is not to say that crosses
won’t afflict you, they will, but the joy of God’s blessings through
Jesus will be beyond measure. In this life the Gospel of Jesus’
forgiveness comforts and strengthens us to live and love under the
cross.

So plan, plan to trust God in all you think, say and do. Confess your
sins and be forgiven often. Look to Jesus the author and Perfecter of
your faith. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can
handle.

In Christ,
Rev. Dustin L. Anderson, Pastor
Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Marseilles, IL
www.trinitymarseilles.us