Last night I gave the benediction at an Eagle Scout Ceremony held by
the Boy Scout Troop our church sponsors.
I was duly impressed listening to all that the young man had learned
-- everything from what you might expect, such as survival in the
wilderness and first aid, to the more unexpected environmental issues
and mutual funds.
I started thinking that he is learning to be a good steward. The
young man is learning stewardship in a more organized fashion than he
ever learned in church. So have we as a church have failed?
When there are organizations out there like the Boy Scouts that help
you to bring up your children strong and morally straight and equip
them with the knowledge of how to be good stewards, what do we as a
church have to offer young families?
Part of the reason I ask this is because so many parents of older
children who did not bring them up in the faith say they regret it.
The parents wish 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,
then I would say that we should go out of business -- at least the
business of raising up children in the faith.
But that last phrase -- in the faith -- helps me to remember 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 the other knowledge they receive in their lives into the
framework of understanding that begins with an all-loving God and only
ends with our doing what we can to help others and may this world a
better place.
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. But we need to fear competition from others who may
teach the skills better. 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 so
unequivocally that they are loved that they are, indeed, truly
grateful. Grateful people become generous people. And generous
people will be glad to find other places and organizations who will
help them learn to be good citizens of this world and of the kingdom.
Lord,
As this new fall season of learning and scouting
and Sunday school begin, help us first to be truly 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. Amen
