The Rewards of Faithful Stewardship
Being Stewards of Legacy
Marriage and fatherhood are not casual roles; they are divine assignments entrusted to men by God. When we steward our families with intentionality, love, and spiritual accountability, we unlock generational blessings and reflect the heart of the Master who will one day ask for a report. Therefore, true legacy begins when we treat our wives and children not as possessions or mere family members, but as sacred trusts, just like gifts placed in our care to be nurtured, multiplied, and returned with honour.
Key Scripture: Matthew 25:21
"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
Other Scripture: Genesis 18:19; Psalm 127:3–5
Exhortation
MARRIAGE & PARENTHOOD: Today's Reality vs Original Purpose
In today’s culture, marriage is often reduced to a ceremony, a legal arrangement, or a romantic partnership that lasts only as long as feelings do. It’s celebrated for its aesthetics—rings, dresses, venues—but rarely for its covenantal weight. Many see it as a lifestyle choice, not a lifelong calling. Yet even outside Scripture, marriage has historically been revered as a sacred bond—a union that builds homes, shapes societies, and anchors generations. It was never meant to be casual; it was meant to be consequential.
Likewise, having children has been watered down to a biological outcome—sometimes even an inconvenience. For some, it’s a by-product of sexual activity, not a sacred responsibility. Parenthood is often approached with detachment, where children are raised without vision, discipline, or spiritual direction. But even in general terms, raising children has always been seen as a noble task—an opportunity to shape lives, pass down values, and build legacy.
Although these roles carry natural benefits—companionship, joy, continuity—the question for Christian men is deeper: What are the spiritual rewards of stewarding marriage and fatherhood according to God’s design?
MARRIAGE: God’s Design and Its Promises
In the beginning, God made them male and female. This foundational truth is reaffirmed by Jesus, who said, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’?” (Matthew 19:4). It is on this divine design that marriage finds its origin—not in culture, convenience, or ceremony.
Marriage was never man’s invention, but God’s idea. From the beginning, He declared, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This union is not just emotional or physical, but spiritual. It reflects Christ’s relationship with the Church (Ephesians 5:25–32), marked by sacrificial love, mutual honour, and covenantal faithfulness.
Scripture affirms the reward of marriage: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). That favour isn’t just romantic, but divine endorsement. A godly wife is a gift, and the marriage itself becomes a platform for spiritual growth, emotional maturity, and generational impact.
Malachi 2:15 reveals one of God’s core intentions for marriage: “Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.” (Malachi 2:15, NLT). Marriage is not just about companionship, but about co-labouring with God to raise children who reflect His image. When we honour our wives, lead with integrity, and build homes rooted in Scripture, we unlock blessings that ripple through generations.
CHILDREN: God’s Reward and Our Responsibility
Children are not mistakes, by-products, bastards, nor burdens—they are blessings. Their arrival may be unplanned or even the result of reckless choices, but if we learn to walk with God and allow Him to take the lead, we will soon discover that every child carries divine potential. For some, the decision to have children may lack intentionality, driven more by cultural norms than spiritual purpose. Yet Scripture is clear: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). They are not just given for provision but are entrusted to us for discipleship.
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Psalm 127:4–5). These arrows are not meant to be left unshaped. They are to be honed, aimed, and released with purpose. So, our role is not just to raise them, but to prepare them for impact.
Proverbs 20:7 affirms this: “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” Our character becomes their covering. Our decisions become their direction. And God Himself singled out Abraham for this very reason: “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19, NKJV). Because of Abraham’s stewardship, God entrusted him with covenant, legacy, and influence that would shape nations. That’s no small thing—it is monumental.
But Scripture also warns of neglect. In Malachi 2:13–15, God rebukes those who dishonour their covenant, saying their offspring will suffer as a result. When we turn our backs on God, we risk forfeiting the spiritual inheritance meant for our children. This isn’t just about discipline, but about destiny. It shows how deeply God values both our children and our stewardship of them. They are not just part of our household but are part of His plan. And how we treat them, lead them, and disciple them matters to Him more than we often realise.
Stewardship of children is not just about meeting physical needs but about preserving spiritual legacy. It’s about raising sons and daughters who know the way of the Lord, who walk in righteousness, and who carry forward the promises of God. When we see our children as divine assignments, we begin to parent with eternity in view.
STEWARDSHIP: The Accountability and the Blessing
Marriage and fatherhood are not just roles but are assignments. And every assignment comes with accountability. Jesus told the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), where each servant was entrusted with something valuable while the master was away. Upon his return, the master demanded a report, not just of what was kept, but of what was multiplied. In the same vein, our marriage and children are treasures entrusted to us by God. We are not owners, we are stewards. Therefore, we should run our families with the mindset that we will give account to God for how we treated our wives and children who He entrusted to us. What would our report be if He demanded one from us today?
Think of it this way: Do we sometimes consider our in-laws when dealing with our wives? Do we overlook certain things they do, not necessarily because we agree, but because we don’t want to betray the trust our in-laws have placed in us, or to avoid conflict? And what about our children? Are we sometimes cautious in how we discipline them, not out of conviction, but to avoid becoming a negative topic of discussion in society or on social media? So, if we care, even in part, about how others perceive our treatment of our wives and children, how much more should we care about how God sees it—He who truly owns them and has appointed us as stewards?
From another view, Jesus said, “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’” (Matthew 25:45, NKJV). We often think of “the least” as strangers, the poor, or the sick, and rightly so. But we often forget that our family members are also among “the least” in the sense that they are close, familiar, and easily overlooked. The wife who needs affirmation, the child who needs guidance, among others—these are not outside the scope of Christ’s words. They are central to them. Hence, we must not underrate or overlook our families as part of the demand to make Heaven. Stewardship begins at home.
When we treat our families as sacred trusts, we unlock divine favour. We gain wisdom, peace, and legacy. We become men who build altars, not just houses; men who raise disciples, not just children, and men who love with eternity in mind, not just emotion in the moment.
CONCLUSION: The Reward of Faithful Stewardship
God does not forget faithful stewardship. He honours the man who loves his wife with consistency, who raises his children with conviction, who leads his home with humility. The reward is not just in heaven—it’s also in the fruit we see on earth: peace in our homes, honour in our marriages, and children who walk in truth.
So let us not grow weary. Let us not settle for watered-down roles or cultural definitions. Let us rise as stewards, being men who understand that family is not just a blessing, but a responsibility. And when the Master returns, may He find that we have multiplied what He entrusted to us. May He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- Can you recall a time when someone—whether a family member or not—treated you in a way that made you feel they genuinely saw themselves as responsible for your wellbeing or growth? How did that experience shape your values, and how can you now reflect that same sense of responsibility in your own stewardship of those entrusted to you?
- Based on insights from today’s discussion, what practical steps can you take to become a more intentional steward of your family?
This week, identify one area in your family life—whether in communication, support, or spiritual leadership—where you can be more intentional as a father, husband, brother, and/or friend. Take one deliberate step to show that you recognise your role as a steward of the lives entrusted to you.
Lord, help me to recognise the people You’ve placed in my life as sacred assignments. Teach me to love them well, lead with wisdom, and reflect Your heart in every interaction, in Jesus' name, Amen!