By Dr. Don Dunlap
Pastoral Counselor
Parents are responsible to help their children steward their possessions and choose godly friends.
Family Counseling Ministries -
Do your children understand the principle that they can
never out-give God? Are they storing up “treasures in heaven?” Do they seem to
be more loyal to their peers than to their parents? In the 12th
segment of a 20-article series on family worship, Dr. Dunlap continues his
discussion of important life principles that parents should communicate to their
children. He explains the principles of stewardship and loyalty.
Many parents want to fulfill the God-given mandate to
teach their children how to live a successful Christian life. The task,
however, seems impossible at times.
Most families today already function at a frantic pace in
order to maintain their overloaded schedules. The thought of adding more
responsibilities to their daily routines can be overwhelming. Parents can often
undertake this goal, however, in the comfortable setting of family worship.
God will not entrust His work to an unfaithful steward.
As we continue to review the thirteen life principles, we
will now consider number eight, the Stewardship Principle.
Parents must lead children to acknowledge the fact that they do not own anything.
Children should understand that everything they have is on loan from God and
that He expects them to take care of the possessions that He has entrusted to
them.
Children must learn to be good managers, or stewards, and
they ought to understand the principle that when they are faithful in small
things, God will entrust bigger things to their care.
In early childhood, children can begin to grasp the concept of
storing up their treasures in heaven.
This principle is meant to help children learn to set
their affections on “things above,” and not on material possessions. Jesus
taught us that “where are treasures are, there our hearts will be also.”
Mothers and fathers should teach children to give generously from a very early
age, encouraging them to remember that no matter how much they give, they can
never out-give God. Parents ought to acquaint sons and daughters with the
scripture from the book of Job,
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name
of the Lord.
If children understand that everything ultimately belongs to
God, they will learn to resist the temptation to become attached to earthly
possessions.
Parents have an obligation to help their children form
wholesome, God-honoring friendships.
Principle #9 is the Loyalty Principle. Children
must learn to look to their parents, not to their peers, for wisdom and
counsel. God’s Word tells us, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Parents have
a responsibility to selectively screen their children’s friends and to set
limitations on who they spend time with. While good friends are a treasured
gift from God, the Bible instructs children to honor their father and mother.
The writer of Proverbs 17:6 promises,
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are
the pride of their children.
Dr. Don
Dunlap, a pioneer in the placement of Pastoral Counselors in the offices of
Christian physicians, has conducted over twenty thousand appointments during
his ministerial career. His counseling practice includes adults, children and
families in crisis. Dr. Dunlap is committed to facilitating a network of
telephone counselors. His goal is to provide help for the many people unable to
meet face to face with a competent Bible-based counselor. For a complete
library of Dr. Dunlap’s articles, indexed by topic, go to Family Counseling Ministries. You
may also make an appointment for personal telephone counseling by clicking on Family Counseling Ministries.
Family Counseling Ministries is a Christianity.com
ministry Partner.
