We’re excited for Christy Cook to be our guest poster today! She has a very good lesson about giving our children to the LORD. Thank you so much, Christy, for contributing a post for Birth Week! ~Kristen
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. (1 Samuel 1:11)
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him…(I Samuel 1:27)
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. (I Samuel 1:28)
Hannah desired to have a child. But sadly she could not conceive. She endured ridicule from Peninnah, whom she already shared her husband with. At times she must have battled feelings of jealousy and inadequacy. She bargained with Jehovah God and promised to “give him to the LORD” if only Jehovah God would grant her a baby boy. God opened Hannah’s womb and blessed her with a son.
James 1:17 teaches us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”
Although written by James thousands of years after Hannah lived, I believe she knew this to be true. She understood what this little human blessing meant. She took her good and perfect son and gave him back to the LORD. She kept her promise.
What an amazing example Hannah is to us as mothers. To those of us that have been allowed these little gifts, these sweet babies, our children….I have one question:
Are we giving them to the LORD?
Hannah gave her son Samuel to Eli the priest at a young age to learn in the temple and to serve Jehovah. Eventually he would become a great prophet of God and judge the children of Israel. We, too, can teach our children starting in the early years to become great in kingdom.
First, we can give them to the LORD by teaching them to know God’s Word.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17)
My oldest daughter, Canaan, is working on her third year of Centurion of Scripture for Lads to Leaders. She is memorizing 100 verses. The last two years she said them all at once. She just turned seven. I have learned so much from her. Watching her recognize scripture and learn new words and have a chance for us to explain their meaning: this is one way to put God’s Word in her heart.
Second, we can give them to the LORD by showing them how to serve others.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:37-40)
Take your children with you to visit the sick at the hospital. Let them help you bake cookies and take to a widow or a new mother. Give them a rake and clean up a neighbor’s yard. The possibilities are endless.
Third, we can give them to the LORD by encouraging them to become a Christian when they grow up.
Can you not see Hannah encouraging her little boy? “One day, Samuel, I will take you to Eli the priest! And he will teach you about Jehovah. You will learn great things and one day you will serve him in a very special way! I know the LORD has big plans for you in His kingdom!”
When someone is getting baptized and our children are looking intently, talk to them about it! Share with them what that means and that they, too, can do that someday. When they see you taking the Lord’s Supper, explain to them what that means to a Christian.
Fourth, we can give them to the LORD by training them how to evangelize.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:1-3)
It may be difficult at first. Maybe you have never attempted to teach others the Gospel. Now is the time. This is easier the better you know the Bible yourself. Dig in. Make sure your children know the value of a soul and urgency in sharing the Gospel with the lost.
Fifth, we can give them to the LORD by giving them opportunities to lead.
Passages concerning Joseph, Daniel, Josiah and Esther demonstrate to us what wonderful possibilities can come from taking the helm and putting on the hat of responsibility. These young people led by way of position and by their examples. They saved their people and glorified God.
Sixth, we can give them to the LORD by reinforcing our priorities.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
Family, work, school, and hobbies. All of these have their place and are important. But nothing comes before the Church. It is the body of Christ. He is why we are here. It is the Lord we need to please primarily and not ourselves. Christ as a young boy understood this as He explained to His mother why He was in the temple with the scribes. If all we teach our children is to do well in school, then that is all they will do. If all we do is make them practice a certain sport, then that is all they will do. If our children only see us working to make money, then they will never see us working to save souls.
So can we do this as mothers? Can we give up our own secret reasons for having kids? Let’s stop trying to live vicariously through our children. Let’s get over our desire to one-up or impress others around us by our awesome kids. They are not here to fill our voids or feed our egos. They are gifts from God. They are souls. They are our responsibility. Their eternal destination is impacted by us!
Are we willing and ready to go through all the pains of labor and joys of motherhood? Are we willing to give them to the LORD?
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:57-58)
My sweet friends and mothers, may our “labor” not be in vain!
Christy is married to Josh, a minister at the North Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, TN. They have four children: Canaan, Caia, Carmody, and Jude. Christy is an x-ray tech working in Vascular Intervention at a hospital in Jackson. She enjoys reading, writing, teaching, traveling, and scrapbooking.
