© 19 Colin Melbourne
Q: You write that parents ought to love Christ even more than their children, but that could easily lead to neglect. Don’t you think parents should put the welfare of their children before anything else?
A: When the welfare of your children is of concern; you will put Christ FIRST in everything.
This is a lesson every Christian, and parent, needs to; understand, and take to heart, or risk losing their children to the world, and worse.
The Glorious Paradox
Here’s the scripture upon which your question is based, Mtt. 10:37-39 KJV where Almighty God made Flesh taught;
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Precious truth from Father in Heaven, spoken by His Only Begotten Son, to you and me.
Let’s hear Him in the Holy Ghost, honour His every word, so we will be blessed and prosper, our families will thrive, and Heaven will rejoice to watch over and protect us.
However, those who read it in the flesh will recoil, take possession of their family, of their life, and will eventually shrivel and perish in their rebellion.
Finders are Losers: But Losers are Finders
Instead of perishing, from this moment yield to Christ as LORD, put Him first in all things, relinquish everything you have to Him, including your family and possessions, and you will begin to live the life you were created for.
How does a mother put Christ before her child?
That seems a very hard thing to do.
It does seem hard… to self, but only because self is in charge, not the LORD. 1 Cor. 9:27 KJV;
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The Holy Ghost wants us to keep our flesh, which includes our soul (i.e. our mind, will, emotions) and body, in subjection to our spirit, and thereby under the rule of the Holy Spirit in us.
When the LORD is ruling, and self is kept subject to your spirit, then it becomes easy to let Christ rule in everything, it becomes a rewarding habit: You obey the Spirit’s bidding, and receive His blessing, by which you learn you did the right thing, which makes it easier to yield in future.
Furthermore; by trusting the LORD more than your own self, your own mind, your own will and emotions, you also discover the LORD actually loves and cares for your children far more than you do, and He proves it by providing for them.
Practise Makes Perfect
You don’t make this discovery until you truly yield all to Christ as your LORD.
Then it becomes a matter of Confidence in Christ to look after ‘your business’, as you look after ‘His business’: If you see what I mean.
Conversely, when you overrule the Spirit in your spirit (your heart), and do your own will, and cling to your children, you will not receive His blessing for obedience; how could you, you disobeyed Him.
You suffer loss, and your children are put at risk because of your selfishness.
Mums and Dads, cover your progeny from the womb with the Word of God, and teach them about Him;
Start them off right, feed young hearts eternal Truth, instead of myths, fairy tales & fantasy. KJV text Matthew 5:3-11 with stimulating gentle imagery to introduce your babes to their Maker.
A Smothering Mum
A lovely missionary’s children had to go to another country to be educated. Their mother found it wrenching to ‘let go’ of her children, and trust the LORD to take better care of them than she could.
Consequently, her children sensed the worry of their mother whenever they were together.
It was obvious to everyone around her.
She fussed over them, detailing how they should behave and act, consequently they felt controlled rather than simply loved.
They had to ‘endure’ being with her, and it was relief for them to get back to school.
Ultimately, they did not follow their mother’s advice, and remained unsaved, following the world, where they felt free to do as they chose.
The bondage their mother inadvertently put them in, shielded them from the love of Christ in their mother.
They did not experience His peace, love, or liberty through their interactions with her.
The lesson to us is; the missionary lost her children to the Devil because she did not love her LORD more than her children.
The LORD had me speak gently to her about it, but her response was stubborn;
“Well, that’s just me, that’s how I am and I can’t change it!”
It was obvious she knew exactly what the problem was, but simply refused to yield to the LORD over the matter.
Learn from her folly: I certainly did.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
© 19 Colin Melbourne
