Raising Our Children as Good Stewards

A number of years ago I was a guest at an Eagle Scout Ceremony as one of our young members was receiving his special award. I was really impressed listening to all that the young man had learned, everything you might expect, such as survival in the wilderness and first aid, to environmental issues and even financial management.

I started thinking that he is learning to be a good steward. The young man is learning stewardship in a more organized fashion then he ever learned in church. So have we as a church failed?

Where there are organizations out there like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that help equip our children with the knowledge of 'how' they can become better stewards. I would like to ask 'what do we as a church or congregation have to offer young families?'

Part of the reason I ask this is because so many parents who did not bring up in the Christian faith later say that they regret it. The parents wish that they had given their children a better sense of how to do life.

If it were true that this was our job and others were doing it better, than I would say that we should go out of business, at least the business of raising our children in the Christian faith.

But that last phrase 'in the Christian faith' helps me to remember that is our real job as the church when it comes to our young people.

The church teaches them the who and the why. Our job is to help fit all of that other knowledge they receive in their lives into the framework of understanding that begins with an all-loving God that sent Jesus.

If children grow up knowing that they are loved so unconditionally by God that He would die for them and that this love extends to all people, then we might give them some of the skills for how to respond to that love. Our young people will learn from us best by how we live out that love.

The best way to raise good stewards is to raise children who know how much they are loved by God, so that they are truly grateful. Grateful people become generous people. And generous people will be glad to find other places and organizations that will help them learn to be good citizens of this world and the kingdom of God.

Join me in a work of prayer, "Lord, as this fall season of learning and Sunday school begin, help us first to be grateful for all that you have given us. May we share that love with all and especially with our children as we watch them grow in faith and in love.
In the name of Jesus. Amen."

In Christ,
Pastor Mike