A viral exchange is blowing up the internet where a 36-year-old woman asked for some life advice from women in their late forties and fifties.

The exchange reminded me of an example in Scripture of someone who listened to the wrong people for advice. Instead of seeking the Lord and heeding the advice of the wise elders who served his father, King Solomon, young King Rehoboam listened to and took the advice from his young unwise friends which led to the division of Israel. (1 Kings 12:8)

The life advice question this 36-year-old asked was this: “Will I regret staying childfree?”

The exchange is going viral, not because of the question, but because of the answers…

“49 no kids, no regrets. Live by the ocean with my husband and two dogs. Thinking about starting a Hermes scarf collection.”

“I’m 42 with 2 kids. I adore them. Stay childfree.”

“61 year old with no responsibilities and all my time and money are mine. My sisters say I was a better aunt because I didn’t have children of my own. I’ve also volunteered in NICU rocking sick babies. Plenty of kids to love in this world without having your own.”

“You may regret having children; you may regret being childfree. Which regret are you more comfortable living with? This line of thinking changed my outlook and I feel more confident and concrete in my decision to not have children.”

“I adore adore adore my children. We are financially very secure. I have a husband who does more than 50% of the parenting and is obsessed with me. Their hugs and laughs tickle a part of my brain that nothing else does. Don’t do it.”

“I would be a GREAT mom. I would not be a HAPPY mom. These comments corroborate that deeply, unfortunately.”

If you were surprised by the tone of these comments, you were not alone. These comments reveal a sickness in our culture that is all pervasive – regardless of child status.

At the heart of these “children are great but they are burdens” comments, the spiritual sickness of selfishness and self-interest is alive and well. None of these comments speak to the long-term benefit of having children, the joy of pouring into something that will outlive you, or the Christian perspective of stewarding an eternal soul.

All of these comments are self-centered – focusing on their own comfort, their own well-being and their own happiness.

The interesting thing is this: in the midst of these women’s pursuit of their own happiness of either celebrating their childfree status or advising others to stay childfree, they are destined to never find true, lasting joy.

Scripture reveals that true joy does not come from being served. It comes from serving. True joy does not come from seeking your own interests, but by seeking the interests of others.

To the young moms out there who sometimes feel overworked and under-appreciated by your children, God sees your labors of love and they are more important than you may ever know.

Every nose you wipe, every diaper you change, and every tear you dry has the opportunity to be done in worship to God and in humble service to your children – both of which have eternal impacts and eternal rewards.

Your work may feel mundane, but it is not meaningless.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)