Hey Singles,
Just wanted to get your opinion on this. If a couple is in the ministry and wants to expand their family/feels that God is calling them to do so, should they expect their supporters to pay for cost of doing so? Sometimes I believe God DOES call families to expand, but sometimes... for whatever reason, people want more babies. Which can be fine if it's for the right reasons, or course! But, who can they expect to pay for them?
The reason I ask is because I receive regular newsletters from several couples serving in ministry around the world. I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but lately, every newsletter has been filled with Baby Fever. "We're Having the Miracle Baby The Doctors Said We Could Never Have!" "God Is Leading Us to Adopt Our 4th Baby!" "Come and Meet the 6th Foster Baby That The Lord Has Blessed Us With!"
WHICH IS WONDERFUL. PLEASE don't think I am somehow looking down on expanding one's family for ANY reason. The Bible says children are a blessing from God, and I have NOTHING but the UTMOST respect for parents, seeing as I helped raise an alcoholic's children for 3 years and received a small taste of what parents go through.
However, the thing that troubles me is that what ALWAYS comes next is: "Won't You Consider Increasing Your Donations To Support Our Growing Family?" I realize these couples are acting in faith--obeying God's call and trusting He will be there.
But the thing that troubles me is, what about all the OTHER believing families out there who are ALSO heeding God's call to expand their families? Should families in ministry automatically assume God's people should chip in and help? Is it our responsibility to specifically support the Jones family, who is serving an orphanage in India, while simply assuming the Smith family, who sits in front of us at church every Sunday, will receive their support from outside the church, such as a raise from a job?
The reason I ask is because I was raised to give something back. Tithing, offerings, and charity were a mandatory part of our upbringing. I say this only to give you a glimpse into my frame of mind, not because I'm seeking praise or a pat on the back.
What I'm saying is, as a single person, I believe it's important for me to support others with families, whether through prayer, emotional support, or finances. But each of us only have so many resources. And lately, my concern is that the families who aren't in ministry are automatically overlooked for the ones who are.
Even if all I have is $5 to give someone, should I automatically give it to the family in ministry... or is the family right next to me just as deserving of support? I'd like to think so.
What are your thoughts on this? Should ministry families automatically be able to count on others like us to give to their expanding family? Or would it be wrong to choose an "everyday" family to give to instead?
Or... to not give at all... or to something else entirely?
(And yes... I try my best to live frugally and give what I can, but sometimes, when I get a newsletter like this, I hang my head... and think... "Lord, you passed by my wishes to ever have a family when I was young... and gave them right over to THIS family. So please help me improve my attitude... as I buy the cheapest toothpaste I really don't like, and skip going out to eat because it's too expensive, and never go out to a movie because... I have to save money... to pay for other people's dreams... and watch you constantly pass mine by.")
How do the rest of you feel about these situations?
I would love to hear what other singles think about this topic as well.
Just wanted to get your opinion on this. If a couple is in the ministry and wants to expand their family/feels that God is calling them to do so, should they expect their supporters to pay for cost of doing so? Sometimes I believe God DOES call families to expand, but sometimes... for whatever reason, people want more babies. Which can be fine if it's for the right reasons, or course! But, who can they expect to pay for them?
The reason I ask is because I receive regular newsletters from several couples serving in ministry around the world. I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but lately, every newsletter has been filled with Baby Fever. "We're Having the Miracle Baby The Doctors Said We Could Never Have!" "God Is Leading Us to Adopt Our 4th Baby!" "Come and Meet the 6th Foster Baby That The Lord Has Blessed Us With!"
WHICH IS WONDERFUL. PLEASE don't think I am somehow looking down on expanding one's family for ANY reason. The Bible says children are a blessing from God, and I have NOTHING but the UTMOST respect for parents, seeing as I helped raise an alcoholic's children for 3 years and received a small taste of what parents go through.
However, the thing that troubles me is that what ALWAYS comes next is: "Won't You Consider Increasing Your Donations To Support Our Growing Family?" I realize these couples are acting in faith--obeying God's call and trusting He will be there.
But the thing that troubles me is, what about all the OTHER believing families out there who are ALSO heeding God's call to expand their families? Should families in ministry automatically assume God's people should chip in and help? Is it our responsibility to specifically support the Jones family, who is serving an orphanage in India, while simply assuming the Smith family, who sits in front of us at church every Sunday, will receive their support from outside the church, such as a raise from a job?
The reason I ask is because I was raised to give something back. Tithing, offerings, and charity were a mandatory part of our upbringing. I say this only to give you a glimpse into my frame of mind, not because I'm seeking praise or a pat on the back.
What I'm saying is, as a single person, I believe it's important for me to support others with families, whether through prayer, emotional support, or finances. But each of us only have so many resources. And lately, my concern is that the families who aren't in ministry are automatically overlooked for the ones who are.
Even if all I have is $5 to give someone, should I automatically give it to the family in ministry... or is the family right next to me just as deserving of support? I'd like to think so.
What are your thoughts on this? Should ministry families automatically be able to count on others like us to give to their expanding family? Or would it be wrong to choose an "everyday" family to give to instead?
Or... to not give at all... or to something else entirely?
(And yes... I try my best to live frugally and give what I can, but sometimes, when I get a newsletter like this, I hang my head... and think... "Lord, you passed by my wishes to ever have a family when I was young... and gave them right over to THIS family. So please help me improve my attitude... as I buy the cheapest toothpaste I really don't like, and skip going out to eat because it's too expensive, and never go out to a movie because... I have to save money... to pay for other people's dreams... and watch you constantly pass mine by.")
How do the rest of you feel about these situations?
I would love to hear what other singles think about this topic as well.