God's Steward of a Precious Gift

 STEWARD OF A PRECIOUS GIFT

By Chris N.  Braza

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"Wise people know that everything they have belongs to God and that is the quality of a good stewardship." C.N.B.

We owe everything to God. The air we need to breath is supplied abundantly for absolutely free. Our strength and ability to get wealth is from above, who is the giver of life. Everything we considered as our possession is actually a borrowed privilege comes with a certain responsibilities. Properties under name is just a formality and legality to enjoys its benefits. The government has the power of what we called "Eminent domain as the right of a government to take and appropriate private property to public use, whenever the public exigency requires it, which can be done only on condition of providing a reasonable compensation therefore." Driving an unregistered vehicle when apprehended by the authority will deem illegal and they have the right to impound it. As a result, we need to pay extra amount to recover it or else we lost our right if we ignore the process. Meaning, we are only a custodian or steward in another word. As steward, we are managing something entrusted to us. Even the talents we have are all God's resources assigned to us and we need to make the best use of these for His glory.

In the same manner, children are not an exemption. God given us a privilege to exercise good stewardship; we are in charge with His precious gifts-the children. They are great inheritance from the Lord. (Psalm 127:3) It is a crystal clear that children are gifts or heritage from God. The Divine is the one who is able to make His masterpiece through us. " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." ( Jeremiah 1:5)

No matter how challenging the responsibility, our goal is how to be a good steward in accordance with the given principles from the Word of God. But before we go further, let's consider the origin and meaning of the word: steward.

In ancient Greece, the “oikos” in oikonomia referred to a household not just in the sense of a family consumption unit, but more in the sense of an estate. An oikos was also a manufacturing unit that supplied many of its own needs and, in many cases, included slaves along with the nuclear family. Although oikos management was thoroughly dealt with in texts from the Archaic period (approximately the 8th to 6th centuries BCE), the word “oikonomia” hardly appears in these texts. For example, Hesiod’s Work and Days (circa 700 BCE) is dedicated to the management of the oikos and is full of advice about agricultural production, however, in this 800-line didactic poem, the term “oikonomia” does not arise. It seems as if the tacit assumption in writings during this time was that all of life that mattered took place within the bounds of one’s oikos. Thus, it was not necessary to offer a separate discussion of economic matters under the subject matter of oikonomia, nor was it necessary to distinguish between the economic and the political sphere. One exception is the earliest appearance of the root word for “oikonomia,” which is found in a poem by Phocilides (6th century BCE) that reflects the misogynic spirit of texts from this age. The poet classifies women by comparing them to different kinds of animals and advises his friends to marry a “bee-like” wife, because she is a “good oikonomos who knows how to work.” “Oikonomos” is usually translated as “steward.” Dothan, Leshem. Journal of Economic Perspective

On the other hand, since children are an indispensable part of every home and parents as acting managers proper guidelines of irrevocable duty and responsibility must be wisely administer.

Here are four principles  we should be mindful as our journey of being a parent is now taking place.

Principle number one: Consider Children as Perfect and Precious Gift.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights..."  (James 1:17)

Children are God's highly esteemed property entrusted to every parent no matter what the case maybe. Regardless if they borne inside or outside matrimonial covenant. Also  we consider in some cases, that there are babies came to life that needs special care and attention for their unusual condition. But no matter, what they are children remain as precious. Why? They are a composition of body, soul and spirit. These are what we're made of. Our component are priceless. Living nowadays is quite different way back a long time ago. We are not in digital era where almost everything is accessible in fingers tips. In no comparison, new life or new born babies are rapidly increasing with the total of 4.3 rates per seconds. As a result we are now reaching close to 7.9 billion world population.

While in some occasions, parents might think that their newly born family member is not expected to come; however, there is no accident if we see it in God's perspective.

I say on the grounds that numerous couples are vacillating over to have another kid or not. Many of them are now preoccupied for what we called family planning. The bottom line is deciding how many children they wish to have at the very beginning. Its looks like they are the only responsible throughout the process. Sometimes fear of additional responsibility curb us than the opportunity of being co-partner of the Almighty of bringing new soul to His kingdom. Some couples are irresolute about having another child. These couples figure "if new baby comes...we need to adjust again with so many things." Stewardship over anything you would prefer not to have obligation regarding in any case won't be simple and easy; however, it doesn't vindicate us from that responsibility.

In the case of Hannah, in the book of first ( Samuel 1:11), she begged to God to give her a man child. She knew how precious it is to have one. Being a barren woman made her appeal to God so gravely to have children. Yes, children because she have more than just one but seven. She realized it was inside His capacity to give her a son. If we think it that way, having a child is God mighty work and not of us, doesn't make sense that kid was a gift? Not just a gift but a precious and perfect  gift because the giver is the Father of Light. That, however it was a gift Hannah explicitly requested. So I accept that in the event that we ask for kids, we have a greater assumption with respect to our stewardship over them. As we'll find later, Hannah was more than mindful of that additional responsibility, and more than prepared to meet it.

Principle number two: Proper Childhood Training Makes Them Stand Out.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  ( Proverb 22:6 )

To begin with, let me simply say that this verse is generally used to admonish parents and to identify the spiritual side of the kid's life and build it up. That is a piece of it, yet by all account not the only part. However, let me address this verse first, as it identifies with profound spiritual preparation. This section isn't a guarantee, even though we raise our kids in a right way and they fall away from the Lord, they will return to God in the end like the Prodigal Son. Cain didn't return. Adam and Eve didn't master yet how to raise their children in a right way. Why? There is no clear instruction yet. In the first place, childhood experience is absent to their history. But not now in our case, we have no excuses of being ignorant of what to do. Hence, this verse explicitly emphasizes that training is more than just teaching and giving instruction. Training has a constant monitoring if they apply what we taught. And when they are matured enough and can address on their own life choices, they will settle on options in accordance with what they absorbed from us when they were young. That is exactly the value of uncompromised training they received in their young age. They won't withdraw from the spiritual values, ethics, and morals which we prepared them on.

We likewise need to prepared them up to be wise with the information we give them as a children. Individuals contrast on what precisely wisdom is, yet my considerations are the following: Wisdom is the viable use of the information and knowledge we have. For example, something we ought to encourage our children is the manner by which to stay safe and secured by creating solid propensities and safe practices. We can bring our children to the walkway and instruct them to look around, left and right prior to crossing the road. Steadfastly, we can do this a quite a long time until they master the importance of safety first measure. If the first occasion arrived when they need to go across the road alone and yet they stumble into the road with recklessness and get bumped by a vehicle, we can say that intersection without looking left an right was not something astute to do. For what, reason was it not insightful? Since they didn't have any significant bearing of the information they had learned. That is only one of many instances of how troublesome, however how critical it is to prepare our kids in the way they should go...and how it take outrageous watchfulness whether or not we are discussing spiritual or practical thing in preparation. The result of concrete and solid training is lifestyle. They will seldom go wrong if they apply what we imperatively imparted to them. In our school, we inculcated the value and power of praying. Children we're conditioned to pay before classes begin, snack time and lastly before they depart going back home.

Harken back to wisdom it remains constant with spiritual matters as well. We can prepare, educate and admonish our children to become adept with with God's Word and to apply it to their lives. We may instruct them all they need about God's forgiveness and freedom from sin to have salvation of our soul. However, its only takes effect if they believe and walk on faith. Everything we believe within our heart has a salient inside and outside demonstration of it. To know what is good without doin anything about it is misleading and they're simply being imprudent. Teaching them about indulgence to vices, worldliness and whatnot are on the whole off-base and isn't sufficient. We must show to them insightful decision. All things should be considered and need careful thinking before they embark on it. To help them realize the possible outcomes of the actions they will take is not enough. We cannot always say that the end result will be the determining factor if it is good or evil. Wise or unwitty decisions are based on how we instruct and inculcate to them the way they should go. Above all, it is very essential to show our good example and appeal to God for them theta they may continue hone and utilize their knowledge and wisdom on every situation arises. For physical and spiritual training both have value which propel each of them to be distinct among the rest.

Principle number three: Children' Assumption of Themselves Depend on Us.

And He said to them, " Why did you seek Me? Did you not know I must be about My Father's business?' ( Luke 2:49 )

This statement of our Lord Jesus Christ is a clear understanding of the things set before Him. At His very young age, His purpose on earth about His Father's business made known to Him beyond dispute. Finding delight at the temple is a natural inclination of His heart. Jesus comprehended it was His "Father's House." And He must be found there and to grow in things concerning His Father's will.

The business that Christ came about was to fulfill the law that will bring reconciliation between God and human. This is the business or mission which neither angels nor men could do to save us from penalty of our sins and that is death. Although it is not something easy to obey, Jesus accomplished it all on the cross. He became obedient to the extent of His life because He knew it from all eternity past. His purpose on earth made so clear to Him, not His own will but thy Father's Will to be done.

And relation to Hannah and her son Samuel implied the same thing. Before the child was borne. Hannah planned to give Samuel over the Lord's work at the designated time. She wasn't going to proceed to introduce him until he had been appropriately weaned. ( I Samuel 1:22 ) This is very important to comprehend. Try not to send your child into whatever it is that God has called them to do until they are prepared. God's perfect timing should be given enough consideration. Regardless of how enthusiastic you or they are, to do anything preparation is most important. They need to understand something related to their calling before we set them to minister. Thus, our children may not loss confidence and credibility to those they're attempting to serve. Samuel is weaned from his mother breast, knee and care before Hannah presented him to the temple as capable to the service and being useful therein. He was brought there to worship God and soon to minister to Eli, the priest in the tabernacle. 

In this story, we can fathom that in the very beginning Samuel knew that one day he will be left to the temple for his purpose. It doesn't mean we suppress their freedom of choice. Our point is to emphasize that our child's assumption of who they are and what what they will become depends on us. At the moment Hannah offered Samuel to the Lord, it was acceptable. It was one-and-done deal. We can get a feeling of how genuine Hannah was tied in with leaving her son. God's blessing to her, in the sanctuary to serve the Lord all of his life. And seeing the countenance of Samuel without resistance because he was nurtured on it is the affirmation of all thing. Hannah successfully delivered the perfect will of God to her son, Samuel as the saying goes; '" Mother always knows best."

Hannah perceived that she was the methods of God used to add Samuel to this world to do the thing God required of him. It's the equivalent with our kids. God utilizes us to carry our children into this world to serve their purpose. And as parent, help them to realize it as early as they can. Although, Samuel isn't born yet, Hannah has already a clear picture of what to do. As a customarily, they regularly went to the temple to worship God.

Principle number four: Good Steward Always Seek Thy Master's Will.

First and foremost, we must continue to grow in the knowledge of our Master's Will not in a distance but in an intimate personal way. Since we are entrusted by God by these precious treasures, it's logical to manage them in a way that pleasing to Him. Hannah and her whole family went to the temple to worship God in a regular basis. They all went to Shiloh, in a far distant place approximately thirty-two kilometers from their house to offer sacrifices to God. In the temple, through the Servant of God named Eli, they received divine instruction. In that way,  they nurtured their children in God's statute. Hannah and her husband Elcanah agreed upon on Samuel's fate because they both knew it is God's perfect will to their son. Parent stewardship doesn't end up setting the tables but nourishing them in the things of our creator. Hannah devoted herself in prayer and seeking Godly wisdom on how she will raise Samuel and the rest of their children. Although there is rivalry in their family, her recourse is to cry to God for help.

There is certain plateau of managing these great treasures, therefore continuously seeking the aid of the Divine to grant us wisdom to nurture each of them in the way they should go. Additionally, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness accompanied with a great promise. What it is? All of those things shall be added to us. Not just physical blessings but the strength we need to carry on the task   of being a good steward. As it written," Apart from God we can do nothing." This implies we really need God's divine guidance in bringing them up. We will be exhausted if we rely only on our own resources. Our strength is limited. It might be consumed at any given time. Our knowledge can be measured, but the wisdom of God is unfathomable. And He wants us to seek Him and to fill with wisdom from above. Because the children you have are not yours or our own, but His who has the complete details and blueprints. Remember, God is our maker.

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