Under His Construction

• Nov. 14, 2007 - Teaching our Children Faithful Stewardship one Step at a Time

The ‘Parable of the Faithful Servant’ is a picture of what most Christians want to be. The truths gleaned from this passage are meant to guide us in our daily choices as we seek to faithfully steward everything He has graciously given us in His service.  It is something we seek to pass on to our children. What Christian does not want their children to be faithful to the Lord their whole lives through? As I read over the last verse of this particular passage (Luke 12:48b typed up below this paragraph) I am seeing a Biblical principle that applies to so many areas of the believer’s life. Lately though I have been pondering one particular application in my children’s lives.  The Principle is sowing and reaping.  I want my children to understand this ever important principle but I see an area where I and I think I can safely say many believers are failing to instill this. Our children’s possessions! How many of us struggle daily over the battle to get our children to pick up after themselves? To keep their stuff contained neatly in their rooms? I am afraid that we have missed a step here in the process of teaching our children to be faithful stewards. Jesus told us that: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”  Luke 16:10 and “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”  Luke 12:48b Ah oh!  I am afraid most of us went right to the giving much and then requiring much before giving our children a chance to learn to be faithful with a little.  Can I see a show of hands of those who are sheepishly nodding their heads? Yeah me too! So what do we do? Is it too late to retrain them? I think I have a solution. Next time you start to have this battle over clutter with your children (which will probably be in the next hour? 20 minutes? 5?) sit them down and discuss these verses with them. Explain to them that since they are not being faithful with what they have they will need to begin with a little.  Have them pick out their most prized and beloved item (yes item - singular) and bag up the rest. Give them a set amount of time that they need to prove their faithfulness to steward that one item. Explain to them or even show them exactly what the expectations are. Where it goes, what you consider ‘neatly put away’ and that this item is to be taken care of without them being told to do so. Then when they prove their faithfulness with that item let them choose another from the stored items. Continue this process until you find your child’s limit of the amount of things he/she can be faithful with. Make sure to be very careful to remove an old item when a new one is received unless they have proven themselves faithful with what they have for the required period of time.

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