Today’s Reading : Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10
As a parent, manager, or a leader, one of the most important things that you can do is be consistent. When you are consistent and your people understand who you are then they are more apt to follow and commit to you.
As a parent, we have to guide our children to make the best decisions with the resources they have available. Being a dad is sometimes really challenging. I try to give and show my love to my children hourly, if not daily. I am continually letting them know how much I love them and cherish them. I also have to make the hard decisions that are not always joyful or happy, such as leading them and directing them with chores or consequences for their actions. This is what a dad is about… loving and guiding my children consistently and lovingly to become responsible adults.
The challenge is being consistent. In my early years and sometimes now I will give so many directions that it can create confusion and anxiety with the kids. I had to take a step back and distill the information into three to four main points and then be consistent with the delivery. I also found that a little reward or sweetness to the interaction goes a long way.
In the passages that we have today, is a great blueprint for being consistent. In Proverbs we have Solomon, speaking to his son. In Romans, Paul is giving the Romans the same instructions of being consistent with the spreading of the gospel. Many times we believe that if we do it once, it would be sufficient. But these examples show us that we must be consistent and gentle with our communications with each other.
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you…
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof…
My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,”
Proverbs 3:1-2, 11, 21 ESV
“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.”
Proverbs 4:1-4, 10, 20 ESV
“My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding…
And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth…
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”
Proverbs 5:1, 7, 21 ESV
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
Romans 10:14-16
Let us be consistent in all that we do. Be Blessed.