David often prays for deliverance from his enemies. He does so in Psalm 17. “Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life” (Psalm 17:13-14a). I suppose today we would describe such folks as “worldly,” the “eat-drink-and-be-merry” crowd concerned only for this life.
Still, God blesses them. “You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants” (14b). David’s point seems to be another cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” But in the midst of David’s jab at his enemies, the Holy Spirit’s pen inscribes an indelible truth—children in the womb are a treasure! Actually, they are a treasure from God!
Our culture holds children up as a treasure. We say so in our headlines. “Five Die in House Fire—Including Two Small Children.” Child victims compound the tragedy of a mass killing. We see children in the womb as treasure too. Entire industries exist marketing products we just cannot do without as we care for pregnant moms and their precious unborn. Yes, we see children as treasure—if we want them, if they are convenient, if they do not get in the way of our “portion in this life.”
How can our culture move so quickly from treasure to trash? How can we have hospitals delivering precious treasures in one wing and discarding the product of conception into the trash in another? I believe one answer to our ability to maintain this treasure/trash dissonance lies not merely in the corruption of the culture, but in the silence of the saints. We have forgotten the “from God” part of the equation.
It is too easy to view the unborn treasure as coming from us, the product of our lovemaking, the result of our will and our design and fulfillment of our desires and our plans. When the unborn is a treasure from us, then we control the meaning of “treasure.” If our parameters are not met, then the path to the “trash” becomes easier to justify and navigate.
But (I love that word!) when we see the unborn as a treasure from God, then He controls the meaning of “treasure.” It becomes all about His love and His will and His design and His plans. Anyone can see the unborn as a treasure. Only the Christian can see the unborn as a treasure from God, created by Him, redeemed by Him in the blood of Christ, and someone to be called by Him in Holy Baptism.
Life is from God. New life is from God. Life’s quality is from God. Life’s purpose is from God. Life’s span is from God. That makes life, born and unborn, a treasure! The more we equip the saints with resources to understand this message, the more that message will translate into changed hearts and into actions that can change lives and, eventually, we pray, influence our culture.
You are a treasure from God! God uses you and people like you to provide the financial resources necessary for us to continue His equipping ministry. So once again I thank you! I invite your continued prayers and your continued support as we strive to uphold not just the treasure of life, but the treasure of life from God.