Stewards Look to Please The Father By Howard Rich

How Great is the Love of A Father  

This past week, I experienced a wonderful exchange between a father and his adult son, which was the culmination of a twenty-eight-year struggle and journey of understanding. This dad has worked hard to launch his son into life with a healthy understanding of his identity as a believer and an understanding of how his relationship with Jesus informs every other relationship in this young man’s life.

The father is a successful leader, and his son constantly finds himself in the shadows, feeling pressured to meet his dad’s expectations. The young man’s dad tries to show love, pride, and satisfaction with his son, but there is disappointment in the relationship that seems to override all the words of affirmation.

Expectations and Disappointments

During a recent gathering, I had the opportunity to ask them about the root of this disappointment. Over the years, these two have had many conversations, with both son and father walking away understanding each other, but still wounded by these feelings of disappointment. What was discovered that day, as we sat around a small table in a crowded café, brought a lifetime of healing.

Through many tears, the son expressed his deep pain at feeling like he is always trying to be like his dad, and as he holds a mirror up to himself, he sees all his failures and disappointments. He knows he can’t be his dad, but he is having trouble finding his own way because he feels like he needs to please his father.

A Steward of Grace

What happened next brought us all to tears. The father looked into his son’s eyes and said, “I have never wanted you to be like me or to live life to please me. I want you to reflect the image of Jesus as his steward, asking Him every day how He wants you to contribute to His Kingdom.” Then he read 1 Peter 4:7-11, which speaks of loving one another and using our gifts as “faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

This dad spoke words of life to his son when he explained that he never wanted the son to please him, but to please his Heavenly Father by stewarding the unique gifts he had been granted. When his son asked, “How do I do that?” the dad emphasized the need for daily prayer and surrender. He demonstrated praying with his hands open, asking God to put in his hands what he needed to be a faithful steward that day.

As the conversation ended, the son explained how he felt a weight lift from him when his dad pointed him to please Jesus by stewarding the unique gifts he had been given, instead of trying to figure out what his dad wanted from him each day. He said it felt life-giving, rather than the moving target of trying to please his dad.

The Power of Prayer and Surrender

I am sure many of us are in the same boat as this young man, trying to please someone here on earth instead of aiming to please our Heavenly Father. Maybe this is a family member, a church leader, a supervisor, or someone in your community. I encourage all of us to change the focus of who we are trying to please by praying and surrendering as we ask God to help us steward the gifts He has given us for His Kingdom purposes.

Howard Rich is the CFO of Amazi Water and the President of the Center for Steward Leader Studies.  Howard is a life-long advocate of generous living and desires to see Christians lead from a heart of stewardship and generosity.

Register today! Discounted rates are available through February 28!