Quote:
Originally Posted by John
Let me begin with words from Witness Lee:
Many married sisters pretend and even declare that they love the Lord. Eventually it becomes manifest that what they really love is their children. They do not even love their husbands so much as their children. Such a sister who declares that she loves the Lord yet who really loves her children more is not a full-timer. If a sister is really a full-timer, whether her children live or are taken away by the Lord, it is the same. (Lee, Elders’ Training Book 8, 112–113) |
Why does this quote single out sisters? It applies to brothers just as equally.
What exactly is Witness Lee saying in this quote? That loving you children is in competition with the Lord? Or is he saying that loving your children is in competition with his ministry?
We should love our children. Our children is a gift from the Lord. If we didn't love children given to us, why entrust parents with such a responsibility? We have a good 20 years to raise our children and nurture them to the best of our ability as parents. After children grow into adulthood, our love continues but the children need to be responsible for their actions. As parents we cannot coddle our children forever.
Based on the last sentence from the quote, once we recieve the Lord, we are all "full-timers". Being a Christian is 24/7. There is no on/off switch. In relating to the sentence, of course we as parents want our children to live. It's abnormal for parents to outlive their children. When the Lord does take our children, I can't speak for parents who have had that happen; but our faith and our trust in the Lord should continue.
Terry