Leadership - Praying for Our Grandkids

 Servant Leadership - Praying for Our Kids

        What ought to be the prayer for our children and grandchildren?  That they get good jobs, sure.  That they get through college without a dollar of student loans, yes.  That they have good, godly, productive marriages, absolutely.  But I dare say, if you’ve spent even a morning at a youth soccer game, you’ll see how crazy our focus can become on worldly achievements.  Oh, that our kid makes such and such a team or gets into West Point.  That all is meaningless without godly character.

        Don’t think for a second that the homeschooling crowd or the private Christian schools are immune to the epidemic of insane narcissism and worldliness.  They are not.  We had our kids in public school, private Christian school, and homeschool; there are pros and cons to each. No, we must pray for much more than worldy success.

        I believe this discussion about the culture of our churches and our families, writ large, is a narrative on the culture of a nation.  We can tell a lot about the culture of our churches by how friendly and otherly focused people are.  Dale Carnegie wrote How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Dirty ‘30s.  Even back in those days, it was obvious that people were crazily self-focused.  Carnegie, in a magnificently persuasive way, taught that what makes a person really interesting is when they are interested in others.  That’s a biblical truth, yet it is far too common in our churches to find people who are just interested in themselves.

        As we look at the characteristics of Christian leadership, we see a need to truly be interested in others.  Able to teach others.  Hospitable, obviously, to others.  A good, strong marriage is a good example to others.  Yet, how healthy are our leadership teams?  Many of us do little to serve in the local church.  Many have not invited a stranger into their house for a meal in years.  Rather than being other-focused, we seem not to care about anyone outside of our tiny circle.  Not good.

        Thousands of years ago, God wrote about the very unfriendly people we encounter today.  God said, “Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense” (Proverbs 18:1).  Sad, but true.  That is not who we want to be.  And that is not who we want our grandchildren to be.  The good news is that there is a great week before us to lead and serve well!

        Here’s the point.  God knows our motives.  He sees what makes us tick.  From a young age, we teach kindness, gentleness, and love, because it is from a young age that God molds our character.  The responsibility is on moms and dads (and grandparents, too) to teach well.  What we ought to want for our kids is a heart right with God.

        Here is how the Bible puts it in the context of how God chose the least of Jesse’s sons, a simple shepherd boy, to be the real deal.  David was handsome, a gifted musician, a natural athlete, a brave warrior, a man’s man and a man of war, a builder, a planner, and a leader of good judgment.  All the helicopter moms would have been tickled pink with him.

        But David was much more than that.  He was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).  God said to Samuel, “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  Pray for the heart of your kids and grandkids.  May they love God and know His goodness.

        We had all four grandsons (7, 5, 3, and 1) sleep over Friday night.  Our daughter had a "mom's life" women’s church leadership planning retreat, and our son-in-law is away with Army training.  The one-year-old, Beckett, hadn’t been away from his mom before…and was up all night.  So Kari and I took turns rocking and holding him.  He eventually fell asleep on my chest at about 5 am!  It was a good reminder for us of what young parents go through (we forget so fast).

        We treasure the time with our grandkids.  It is just amazing how loving and smart and kind and interesting they are.  They ask better questions than most adults I know.  They want to help so much.  And they love the crafts and games Kari plans for them.  God willing, we will get to see them grow in Christ.  We are seeing it already.  I can’t wait to see them grow, but it sure seems like they are growing all too fast.  I cherish how precious they are.  I pray that for all their lives they are guarded and guided by Almighty God.

        The Bible says that God will reward us for doing right.  I believe this applies to this life (Psalm 18:24) and to eternity (Revelation 22:12).  And doing right means doing things God’s way: caring for others, living righteously, working hard, and with confidence and contentment, humbly trusting Jesus in everything.

        God brings satisfaction.  Nothing else, no one else.  Not our pursuits, prizes, or possessions.  In relationship with God, we are made new and can rebuild, embark, hold fast, and lead well.

        Desire not retribution, but reconciliation.  Desire not youthful lusts, worldy selfish ambitions, foolish disputes, being right or intelligent.  Instead, no matter what point of the timeline we are on, we shall desire deep communion with God and rich fellowship with those who call on Jesus out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).

        May we want nothing to do with arrogant men, false teachers, and frauds.  May our heroes be the real deal Christians, genuine believers who seek not a name for themselves, but rather who know the name above all names.  May we be servant leaders who yearn for knowledge and understanding  - those who have a sense of the depth of God’s love and who are gentle toward all, able to teach, and patient with others as they grow in Christ.

        This week, God willing, I hope to dive into biblical leadership characteristics (1 Timothy 3).  My sense is that God is growing and expanding His Kingdom at a fierce pace, here in the USA and across the globe.  The future is bright because of God's goodness.  Shall we be called to go across the street to minister to the grieving or across the globe to share God’s goodness through business transactions, we must be ready, willing, and able to go.  I hope and pray we prepare well.

        We have all we need and more in Jesus (Colossians 2:1-23).  Lord Jesus, thank You for the worldwide Church, for how You are growing and nourishing those who know and understand Your mysterious plan.  May all know You and accept You as Savior.  Please bring reconciliation and growth in our marriages, our workplaces, our communities, and our nations.  May each of us do our important parts to reflect You well to others with pure and loving hearts.  Amen.

Grandma's Boys