How many of us wake our children up for school because it’s so much easier than relying on them to do it for themselves? While we’re at it we might as well clean up their messy bedrooms, or do their laundry long after they could do it themselves.
These are the quandaries of parenthood. On the one hand, we know we should be teaching responsibility, on other, we grow impatient with waiting for them to do tasks that clearly count more for us than for them. On top of this, we’re often afraid to risk them closing off options that might affect their futures.
In other words, we hold on to control even though we’re providing unnecessary services to our capable children – “help” that implies their incapability of managing themselves. Interesting, when we consider that God – who has control – doesn’t exercise this kind of supervision over us.
Instead, the Lord gives us many responsibilities. In Genesis 1 God charges humanity with caring for the earth. God calls Abram to leave his home (Genesis 12), Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3), and the prophets to rail against the nation’s sins. The story of Adam and Eve in Eden (Genesis 2-3) stands out as an example of God giving humans too little to do and we know those results!
Even while standing back to let us learn, God cheers for our attainment of capability. Think of how God handpicked for Moses those who would construct and fashion the sacred elements of worship in the Tabernacle:
“See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel … I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman (Exodus 31:1-5).
By refusing to micromanage us, God opens the doors to our self-discovery. While the Lord wants us to be engaged in our work, committed to good outcomes, to fairness, and to excellence, the real payoff for God – and for us – comes when we learn for ourselves what we can do, and how to celebrate the pleasure work done well brings.
Isn’t this a beautiful way for a parent to show us love?
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