44 WITH INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY COMES
INCREASED PRIVILEGE.

“Everything you enjoy is a privilege, not a right,” explained the wise parent.

A right is something I deserve. But a privilege is a gift I have shown that I can handle responsibly. Everything I receive is a gift. I am a steward, not an owner.

For example, my room is not a right, but a privilege. My allowance, clothes, outings, and games are not rights but privileges. These are attitudes that children must develop. They learn them from parents.

As a child matures and can responsibly handle more privilege, more opportunity is given by the parent for that child to make right decisions.

For example, as my child takes more responsibility for the cleaning and care of his clothes, then he has more privileges in shopping for and selecting them.

As my child takes responsibility for doing chores around the house—just as the parents share in the chores, then the child has more privileges in using what’s in the house like the TV, computer, phone, etc. From an early age, a child is taught to be a steward, not a consumer.

Consumers have the attitude that they own what they buy. Stewards know that everything they have for the moment belongs to God. Are you raising your children to be stewards or consumers?

Children who are consumers focus on their rights, possessions, and materialism. Children who become stewards develop an attitude of gratitude and appreciate the privilege of managing that which belongs to another—God.

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 (Matt. 25:21–22).