One of my college-aged sons recently reaped the fruit of past behavior. He’d worked a job last summer, and his boss pointed out that he was accountable and hard-working. Therefore, this summer, he has an open door to come back and even work out a favorable schedule. His prior hustle has given him increased flexibility. It’s a small thing. But, in it, we find a significant life lesson. We compared this to the parable Jesus told in Luke 16. Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,” and He continued, “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” As dads, we need to help our kids understand this pattern. Encourage them to be faithful with the little they’ve been entrusted, and help them connect-the-dots when that opens future doors. And, on occasion, help them see how a current lack of opportunity might’ve been created by prior patterns.

Teach Your Kids The Meaning of Easter: The world sees Easter through the lens of rabbits and eggs and candy. As Christian dads, we understand that the meaning of Easter goes so much deeper. We also need to remember that God has given us the responsibility to explain the meaning of this important Christian holiday to our children. It’s a task that we can’t delegate to the church or surrender to the culture. If our kids are going to hear about the true meaning of Easter, they need to hear it from us!

Romans 12: Knowing and Using Your Spiritual Gifts: What’s the greatest gift you’ve ever received? It’s probably not what you think. That’s because the spiritual gifts God provides through the Holy Spirit provide meaning for our lives and open doors for ministry to the world. No tangible gift could ever compare. In this episode, we’ll talk about how you can figure out how God has gifted you—and how you can help your family members lock into their gifts, as well.

“Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.”
– Winston Churchill

“Killing Goliath changed David’s life exponentially but it wasn’t Goliath that came knocking on his door – it was his father, telling him to take lunch to his brothers. Sometimes, opportunity looks like your dad telling you to do something boring.”
– Jonathan McNeese

“Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson.

Connect the dots. Has one of your children recently been asked to lead the student council? Did your daughter get the lead in a play after having acted in a handful of smaller roles? Was your adult child offered a promotion at work after faithfully delivering for the company for a few years? Did you get asked to serve on that Board due to diligent volunteering over time? Find an example this week of how prior faithfulness unlocked a door and help your kids connect the dots.

Kent Evans
Author of Bring Your Hammer, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.