7 Billion People--A Problem? Or Opportunity?

According to the United Nations and many news reports, today is the day that we will officially have 7 billion people on the planet. I thought I remembered when the world population hit 4 billion, and with a little research, it appears I was right. According to the 2011 World Population Data Sheet, we reached...

• 1 billion in around 1800 (it took all of human history to achieve it)
• 2 billion in 1930 (130 years later)
• 3 billion in 1960 (30 years later)
• 4 billion in 1974 (14 years later...I was 7 years old)
• 5 billion in 1987 (13 years later)
• 6 billion in 1999 (12 years later)
• 7 billion in 2011 (12 years later)

The U.N. has estimated a population of 9.3 billion by 2050, and there is expected to be more than 10 billion people on Earth by 2100.

Some people see the additional bodies as a problem. I think God sees them as more people to love. I'm confident He, who "determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name" (Psalm 147:4), can handle the population growth. I believe He has a plan for each of the 382,000 babies who will be born today. I'm glad to be a small part of that as I add value to each person who crosses my path today.