Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen. (1 Kings 11:13)
I DO NOT HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE of leaving my children a grand monetary inheritance. My spouse and I both work in youth ministry, and we hope to leave our kids with better things. We hope they grow up to be independent adults who think for themselves and love people with a love like Christ. I want them to know how to wrestle with doubt and realize that God loves them through it all.
I also hope my children don’t end up punished because of something I do. I don’t want them to go into debt because my husband and I made bad choices. I want to model a good marriage so they know what one looks like. I pray there is a world healthy enough for them to go outside and enjoy fresh air and nature. Most of all, I want things to be better for them than they are for me.
Often in Scripture it seems as though children suffered because of the sins of their parents. The Lord was very angry at Solomon for turning away from Him, and therefore Solomon’s son would suffer because of what his father had done. We can make sure we don’t make our children suffer on our account. We need to take steps now to help build a world in which all of God’s children can thrive and serve Him.
Go do something that makes this world better for God’s children.
Sara Galyon and her husband Philip both serve in youth ministry in the north Alabama area. Her family enjoys traveling, baseball, and serving God together.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
