Are you tired of that nagging child?
Does the weight of parenting feel so heavy that it seems to crush you to your knees? Does it seem as if your struggles are peculiar to you alone? Are you worn down by the endless cycles of your child’s rebellion, and by the midnight hours spent on the altar of prayer and searching the Scriptures?
If that’s you, I have good news today: don’t give in yet. Tarry a little longer. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Habakkuk 2:3)
Pull up a chair, because today we’re talking about stewardship and steadfastness in godly parenting.
First, what do these words mean?
Understanding the terms will give us clarity.
Steadfastness means being firm, resolute, and unyielding, staying loyal to a course, a belief, or a person without compromise.
Stewardship means being a servant, someone who serves the interest of another.
Put them together and you get a parent who trusts, receives, and believes what Scripture teaches about parenting, then puts it to work without compromise. (James 1:22-25; Genesis 18:19)
Proverbs 22:6 is a commandment, not a suggestion
Let me say this plainly. Proverbs 22:6 is a commandment to every believer, whether you’re a practising parent or still finding your feet. It isn’t an option, a tip, or a piece of advice. It’s a priority, and it must be obeyed if we want to raise godly children who will carry the banner of Christ tomorrow.
And because it’s a priority, we are called to be steadfast in our stewardship. In fact, where our steadfastness stops is where our stewardship stops. (Matthew 24:45-47)
The mark of a steadfast steward: endurance
Scripture calls us to endure hardness (2 Timothy 2:3). Endurance is:
- the ability to keep doing something difficult for a long time to reach a goal;
- the ability to bear discomfort and suffering over the long haul for that goal;
- the discipline of keeping your body under subjection again and again, which is self-denial (1 Corinthians 9:24-25);
- refusing to faint while doing the work of God.
Your labour is not in vain
Here is the encouraging part. Every steadfast parental steward has a two-way reward, now and hereafter. (Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 18:28-30)
What you’re going through is training with purpose, not suffering without meaning, and the reward far outweighs the labour. So let’s stay unmovable in our duties, serving with joy and delight as unto the Lord. God didn’t give us children to stress us or burden us. He gave them to bless us.
Pray for grace to be a steadfast steward of the children God has placed in your hands. (Hebrews 4:16)
Where it all begins
Salvation is the first step to becoming a steadfast steward. If you’ve never given your life to Christ, or you want to renew your commitment, pray this with me:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today. I know I am a sinner, and I acknowledge my sins. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day to cleanse me from sin and from the power of Satan. Please come into my heart and life. I want You to be my Lord and Savior, and I want to serve You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Let’s talk
What has been the hardest part of staying steadfast in your parenting? Share it in the comments, and let’s encourage one another.
Remain ever blessed.
JESUS IS LORD.
