While the challenging cost of living in Singapore is indeed the main issue why so many couples do not want to have a child, believers might want to take a different stand, by grace through faith in God.
Disclaimer: I'm referring to believers who can, but refuse to have a child.
This act of decision actually tests our obedience to the Word.
Did He not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. - Mal 2:15 ESV
Didn't God create you and your wife to become like one person? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. Don't ever be unfaithful to your wife. - Mal 2:15 CEV
Having a child is beyond our comfort and purpose. It serves a greater purpose in the Kingdom. For it has been the intent of God since the very beginning.
And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 and subdue it and 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." - Genesis 1:28
The word 'fill' in Hebrew is the exact same word used in Hab 2:14.
For the earth will be 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. - Hab 2:14
God's intent is to fill the earth with His glory, through His people, primarily through families (aka with children). Evangelism is not the primary intent; it was introduced due to the Fall of Man. Godly offspring was cut off, and thus, required Redemption.
This does not mean that God's intent has changed. For the believers, having children still falls under the Kingdom's plan and purpose.
In other words, the reasons based on the cost of living and the fact that we are living in perilous times are no longer acceptable if we desire to follow Him. In fact, God is always greater than these.
1 John 5:4 says "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith."
We can trust Him to care for our needs and our children regardless of how the world becomes, for we have been born of God and we overcome the world.
