God calls us as dads to be faithful stewards! Stewards who are the husband to your wife and dad to your kids. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much is given, much is required. Do you realize that as a Christian God has called you to be a parent and pass on the baton of faith to the next generation, be it a physical parent or a spiritual one? As dads, we have been given a high calling and God has given us precious people that we must steward with His wisdom and discernment, overflowing with love!
What is required for dads to be good stewards?
‘The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip], but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. ‘
Luke 12:42-48
Dads are required to be good managers (stewards).
Today’s verse tells us about a manager and the importance of being trustworthy and honest.
‘ “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. ‘
Luke 16:10
Firstly, it is required of us to be faithful to what we have been given, a little at first will demonstrate our faithfulness. Therefore, don’t be dishonest even with a little because it speaks volumes of your lack of loyalty and disqualifies you from having more. Let’s get more context around today’s verse of the day. So, let’s choose to be faithful to God our master, and choose to live up to His required standards by being good stewards and managers of our marriages, our families, and our lives.
‘Now Jesus was also saying to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager [of his estate], and accusations [against this man] were brought to him, that this man was squandering his [master’s] possessions. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management [of my affairs], for you can no longer be [my] manager.’ The manager [of the estate] said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig [for a living], and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management, people [who are my master’s debtors] will welcome me into their homes.’ So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one, and he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of [olive] oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ And his master commended the unjust manager [not for his misdeeds, but] because he had acted shrewdly [by preparing for his future unemployment]; for the sons of this age [the non-believers] are shrewder in relation to their own kind [that is, to the ways of the secular world] than are the sons of light [the believers]. And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].” ‘
Luke 16:1-13 (The Unjust Steward (Manager))
10 ways as dads to apply today’s verse of the day:
- Be faithful with small things: “Show your children that you are trustworthy with small responsibilities, such as keeping your promises and being on time. This will build their confidence in your ability to handle larger responsibilities.”
- Be honest in all things: “Always tell the truth to your children, even if it’s uncomfortable or difficult. This will build a foundation of trust in your relationship with them.”
- Model integrity: “Show your children what it means to have integrity by being consistent in your words and actions. This will help them develop strong character and values.”
- Teach responsibility: “Encourage your children to take responsibility for their actions and help them learn to follow through on commitments.”
- Foster good habits: “Help your children develop good habits, such as being organized, punctual, and disciplined. These habits will serve them well in all areas of their lives.”
- Practice self-control: “Demonstrate self-control in your own life, such as managing your emotions and controlling your impulses. This will help your children learn to regulate their own behavior.”
- Show humility: “Be humble and admit when you make mistakes. This will model accountability and responsibility to your children.”
- Develop a strong work ethic: “Teach your children the value of hard work and perseverance. This will help them develop a strong work ethic that will serve them well in their future careers.”
- Encourage generosity: “Show your children the importance of being generous with their time, resources, and talents. This will help them develop a spirit of giving and compassion.”
- Build meaningful relationships: “Teach your children to prioritize relationships and to invest in building strong, meaningful connections with others. This will help them develop a strong support system and foster healthy relationships throughout their lives.”
Pivoting to ensure we cover our responsibilities to be good stewards as husbands, here are some ways to apply today’s verse of the day to this important role.
Applications of today’s verse of the day in being a husband:
- Be faithful in small things: “Show your spouse that you are trustworthy with small responsibilities, such as keeping your promises and being on time. This will build their confidence in your ability to handle larger responsibilities and deepen their trust in you.”
- Practice honesty: “Be truthful in all aspects of your marriage, even if it’s difficult. Honesty is the foundation of trust in a relationship and builds a deeper connection between you and your spouse.”
- Show integrity: “Be consistent in your words and actions, and practice what you preach. This will demonstrate your integrity and strengthen your credibility with your spouse.”
- Take responsibility: “Own up to your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions. This will demonstrate your maturity and willingness to be accountable for your actions.”
- Invest in your marriage: “Just as you would invest in small things that matter to your spouse, take steps to invest in your marriage, such as spending quality time together, practicing good communication, and showing appreciation and gratitude. These small investments can have a big impact on the health and strength of your marriage.”
