I’ve been noticing that the closer I approach fatherhood, the more worrisome I’ve become. I’ve been worrying a lot lately. I’ve been worrying about how we’re supposed to pay for this kid that we’re going to be having in less than six months.
I think I’m starting to understand my parents more and more, and why they panic over the way that I think sometimes. I think sometimes that life is all about taking risks and living an adventure. Now I’m starting to see that adventure + new marriage = chaos.
I realize now why my parents did what they did, and why I think we’re bound to repeat it. When you consider the great responsibility of raising and bringing up a child in the Lord, suddenly the question the callings and ministries that you used to be sure of. I wonder what kind of father I want to be.
Do I want to be a great Christian father so wrapped up in ministry and following God’s will in faith that I put our children’s lives on the backfiring? Or do I want to be someone like my father who just worked his way up from secular job to better job so that we were well taken care of. The more I approach parenthood, the more I appreciate my parents.
My parents accomplished no big great thing for God, except raise two children in the Lord. Better than most pastors. Better than most great pastors.
I am finally starting to get I Corinthians 7.
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairshow he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this worldhow he can please his wife and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this worldhow she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. (I Corinthians 7:17-35 NIV)
Parenthood changes everything. The Christian life begins to move from acting on faith to acting in obedience. I’m not a child anymore. I’m finally becoming a man.