Why You Do What You Do
The position we must embrace regarding Christian education is the understanding that man, first and foremost, is God's vice-regent/steward on earth (Gen.1:26-28). A being created with a specific purpose by God to take dominion in a lawful manner over all that is put into his hands. Man was created to rule the earth as God’s representative. He is not to rule as an overlord or some petty tyrant over land, animals, and other men! Indeed, the only authority man has in his office of vice-regent is delegated. It is only because man is under God that he possesses a limited sovereignty over the creation, and only as a steward who will someday have to give an account to God for all that he has possessed or had an opportunity to possess.
Therefore:
Properly understood, stewardship includes all of life; all of men’s actions and attitudes; personality and personal influence; in money matters, the acquisition, handling, spending, saving, investing, giving, and final disposition; use of the land, resources, and tools; one’s profession, job or place of service; education and the use of education; one’s worship of God, the witness of his life, his personal testimony, his purpose and goals in life. [1]
Thus, we can say that although man was named by the very fact of his being created in the image of God, the reality remains that his true “name” is in his calling, or occupation as steward, meaning manager, over God’s resources, which includes himself.
Equally important, work was and remains a privilege for the human race, and sloth is condemned not only as rebellion against God’s primary command for man to take dominion as His image-bearer, but also a perverted repression of the image of God. [2] This means that work – including what we think about it and how we think about it, is closely linked with our spiritual maturity. God’s goal for believers is that they should be “conformed” to the image of His Son (Rom.8:29). The Son of God is, like the Father whose image Jesus displays, a worker (John 5:17), creating, sustaining, and redeeming the world (Col.1:15-20).
Therefore, growth in Christian maturity as His image bearers implies not only increasing righteousness, holiness, and truth (Eph.4:23-4), but also growth as workers fulfilling God’s purpose for all mankind to cultivate and keep the earth (Gen.2:15). God is originally creative and we, as His image bearers are re-creative in the sense that we take what He has given us and seek to be prudent investors who count the cost of our stewardship as we act and gain an increase during our time on earth (Matt.25:14-30) because accountability is essential to stewardship and sound economic and occupational activity. By said “accountability” - individuals, families, businesses and even nations either prosper or go bankrupt (Gal.6:7). Sadly, our current leadership in Washington and on Wall Street are feckless [3] as they are greedy. [4]
As parents, the principles of faith, prudence, temperance and stewardship must be the foundation of why we partner together: to train children to serve their heavenly Father as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). We are blessed to be part of your efforts as you undertake this sacred mission of “training up a child in the way he should go…” (Proverbs 22:6).
Christian Liberty Homeschools is here for you:www.homeschools.org
What is a human being and how should they both govern, and be governed:
https://www.shopchristianliberty.com/institutes-of-biblical-law/
[1] Merrill D. Moore, “Stewardship,” in Carl F. H. Henry, ed., Baker’s Dictionary of Christian Ethics (Grand Rapids: Baker House, 1973), p. 649.
[2] The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Prov.12:24). Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son [or daughter] who acts shamefully (Prov.10:4-5).
See also:https://mises.org/wire/governments-will-make-you-poorer-again