THE VALUE OF CHILDREN
TEXT- MATTHEW 18:1-10
Matthew 18:1-10 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
INTRODUCTION
THIS MORNING THE YOUTH OF OUR CHURCH TOOK OVER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEADING US IN OUR WORSHIP.
THEY LEAD IN PRAYER, SOME OF THEM SERVED AS USHERS, OTHERS MADE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ALSO LEAD THE SONG SERVICE.
AFTER THE SERVICE TWO OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE BAPTIZED WERE CHILDREN. OUR CHILDREN’S CHURCH DIRECTOR ALSO TOLD ME THAT ANOTHER CHILD TOLD HIM TODAY THAT HE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE BAPTIZED NEXT SUNDAY.
OUR YOUTH PASTOR WAS ASKED TO BE THE GUEST SPEAKER BY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THIS MORNING AND THE MESSAGE HE PREACHED ALSO FOCUSED ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE MAIN POINT OF HIS MESSAGE CENTERED AROUND THE NEED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO VALUE THEMSELVES.
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE OUR FOCUS UPON YOUNG PEOPLE AND CONSIDER THE VALUE OF CHILDREN.
HOMELESS CHILDREN WHO WANDER THE STREETS OF THE WORLD'S GREAT CITIES ARE OFTEN CALLED "VERMIN." THEY ARE BRANDED AS SUCH BECAUSE THEY BEG, STEAL, SELL THEIR BODIES; AND IF THEY SURVIVE, THEY GROW UP TO BE HARDENED CRIMINALS. TO ELIMINATE THIS SOCIAL CANCER, UNSCRUPULOUS BUSINESS LEADERS IN SOME CITIES HAVE EVEN HIRED PEOPLE TO KILL THEM. IMAGINE! KILLING HOMELESS CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE A SOCIAL PROBLEM!
HOW CAN CHILDREN MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE BE CONSIDERED VERMIN? EVERY CHILD HAS GREAT VALUE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. CHRIST SUFFERED AND DIED FOR THEM ON CALVARY, AND THEY NEED TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S GRACE!
WE MUST DO MORE THAN REACT WITH PITY. WE MUST SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR THE AGENCIES STRUGGLING TO ALLEVIATE THIS OVERWHELMING PROBLEM. WE MUST ASK THE LORD TO FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE SO THAT WE WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF HURTING CHILDREN IN OUR OWN CITIES. IN THAT WAY, WE WILL BE PRACTICING THE "PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION" THAT CARES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED (JAS. 1:27).
JESUS NEVER VIEWED CHILDREN AS VERMIN. HE SAW THEM AS IMMORTAL SOULS OF INCALCULABLE VALUE. HE SAID, "WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE LITTLE CHILD . . . IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME" (MT. 18:5).
LITTLE CHILDREN ARE A BIG CONCERN TO GOD
A MAN AND HIS LITTLE GIRL WERE ON AN OVERCROWDED ELEVATOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN A LADY IN FRONT TURNED AROUND, SLAPPED HIM IN THE FACE, AND LEFT IN A HUFF. THE LITTLE GIRL LOOKED AT HER DAD AND SAID, "I DIDN'T LIKE HER EITHER, DADDY. SHE STEPPED ON MY TOE SO I PINCHED HER."
I KNOW WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT CHILDREN ARE VALUABLE BUT HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE REASONS WHY?
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THREE REASONS WHY CHILDREN ARE VALUABLE.