Cycles of Family Sons are a Heritage

Cycles of Family

Sons are a Heritage

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

The word “heritage” is something inherited,

i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an

heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion.

Much of the time when we think of

inheritance we think of money, houses,

heirlooms of precious metals or jewels.

Those things we leave behind

after death for our loved ones.

We write down all we have in a last will and

testament as a gift to family or some organization.

Some of the things we worked for will last

as a memory, others will help to build upon

the goals and values we had while we were alive.

God says something very interesting in Psalms 127…

 “Sons are a heritage from the Lord”

Our children are our heritage.

We will leave them to the earth, to the world.

When God gives us children we

are giving a gift to the world.

God says they are

“like arrows in the hands of a warrior”.

Arrows are meant to be aimed.

 Arrows need a target.

They have a purpose.

As parents our children “WILL” change the world.

 

I know a man who is an avid bow

hunter he makes his own arrows.

  

I was surprised at the amount of time,

energy and resources goes into each arrow.

Every little thing affects the accuracy of

that arrow when it is shot from a bow.

The world is full of deadly evils.

The devil is like a roaring lion

seeking those he can devourer.

 

God, the Heavenly Father loves the world

and is grieved at the effects of sin.

His love gave His Son Jesus as an inheritance.

^“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the

 purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”

Ephesians 1:11  

In Luke 12 a man came to Jesus asking

Him to arbitrate his father’s inheritance.

Jesus quickly pointed out the problem of seeking

things as a sin and destruction of greed.

Jesus told the man it is foolishness to worry

about our life as it pertains to food, clothing

and the things our bodies want in life.

Jesus ended up saying we should aim for the Kingdom of God.

“But seek his kingdom, and these things

will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31 NIV

Our children are the greatest heritage we will leave on earth.

The question is…

 Are we aiming them in the right direction?

If we teach them how to fish, hunt and provide

for themselves they will miss the most important target.

But if we teach them to seek the Kingdom of God…

Make that the target they will not only care for themselves

but the World and the principles of the Kingdom

will give them everything they need in this life.

So what is the Kingdom of God we are to aim for?

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of 

righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Romans 14:17 NIV

As parents how well are we constructing

our arrows and have we given them a

clear target of the Kingdom of God?

Your greatest heritage you will leave won’t be your assets.

They will be your children and their children for generations.

When your children leave the nest where will they go?

There are 6 cycles for a family to navigate 

“Cycles of family life”

The marriage

Bearing children

Raising children

The empty nest / launching new family

The declining years

Death in the marriage

Family cycles should be a great experience for the whole family

Scripture Reading

Psalm 127:3-5 NIV

3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.