PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

In verses 18 and 19 Paul tells the Corinthians, "Now some have been puffed up as though I were not coming to you; but I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills." ... Some were puffed up, thinking that he would not visit them. But Paul says that if the Lord wills, he will come to Corinth shortly. If it were up to him, he would definitely come. But, according to the New Testament way of speaking, Paul inserted the words "if the Lord wills" to indicate that the Lord may not send him there. Thus, if the Lord wills, he will come. But if the Lord does not will that he visit the Corinthians, there is nothing Paul can do about it. (Witness Lee, Life-Study of First Corinthians, Message 35, pp. 310-312)

Watching and Being Ready Because Christ Will Come as a Thief

In [Matthew 25] verse 42 the Lord tells us to watch, for we do not know on what day the Lord will come. Then verse 43 says, "But know this, that if the householder knew in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into." The householder refers to the believer, and the house, to the believer's conduct and work which he has built up in his Christian life. A thief comes to steal precious things at an unknown time. The Lord will come secretly as a thief to those who love Him and will take them away as His treasures. Hence, we should watch. "Therefore," as the Lord says in verse 44, "you also, be ready, for the Son of Man comes in an hour that you think not." This refers to the Lord's secret coming to the watchful overcomers.

The Faithful and Prudent Slave Giving Food to the Lord's Household at the Appointed Time

Verses 45 through 51 are concerned with faithfulness and prudence. Verse 45 says, "Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the appointed time?" Faithfulness is toward the Lord, whereas prudence is toward the believers. Watchfulness is for rapture into the Lord's presence, but faithfulness is for reigning in the kingdom (verse 47).

The household spoken of in verse 45 refers to the believers (Ephesians 2:19), who are the church (1 Timothy 3:15). To give them food is to minister the Word of God with Christ as the life supply to the believers in the church. We all must learn how to minister the life supply to the household of the Lord at the appointed time.

Verses 46 and 47 say, "Blessed is that slave whom his master when he comes shall find so doing. Truly I say to you, that he will set him over all his possessions." To be blessed here is to be rewarded with ruling authority in the manifestation of the kingdom. The faithful slave of the Lord will be set over all His possessions as a reward in the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens. (Witness Lee, Life-Study of Matthew, Message 63, pp. 741-742)

APPLICATION

1. Explain the term steward in the light of Paul's word in First Corinthians chapter four.

2. What is the primary focus of the stewardship to which the Lord has appointed us as parents?

3. Paul speaks of his status as a begetting father and of his being an example; Matthew speaks of watchfulness and faithfulness. Explain each concept with a view of parenting.