Written by Stephen Rohrer, Wealth Manager
(This is Part II of a four-part series. We recommend starting with Leaving Firm Foundations Part I: Don’t Leave Holes)
As discussed in Part I of this series, the first step in building a foundation is to stop digging traps and pitfalls for those who come after us. We must stop actively hampering our children’s prospects. But once we stop digging pits, we must start building. The foundation to build for your sons and daughters has three components: Opportunity (both the liberty and space), Resources (both material and intellectual), and Wisdom (to know how to use resources and opportunity and how to create more of both). Our sons and daughters may be able to stumble into these elements, but they could spend most of their lives just figuring out how to get started. But if we can firmly establish these foundations, they can spend their lives building glorious cathedrals and castles. For the sake of our future generations, let’s think through these components carefully. Let’s begin with Opportunity.
The Space:
To give our sons and daughters opportunity to build, we must secure the liberty and the space for them. They need the space – we must give them room to do things themselves. If they are second-guessed and hovered over at all times, they will withdraw and give up on building. In our work, if a supervisor stood over us nit-picking and criticizing our every move, we would start to second-guess ourselves. Once we do that, our confidence disappears and our performance crumbles. Hopefully we know the dangers of that at work, but all too often, that lesson is forgotten with our kids (and spouses). It’s tricky. It’s tricky because we tell ourselves that intervening is in their best interest. We know how to do it the right way, the efficient way, the quick way. And most importantly, they’re doing it wrong! But if second-guessing destroys confidence, true responsibility grows ability. Start with small responsibilities. Add to them as they prove themselves faithful and capable. As Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” (Luke 16:10). But they must be given a little responsibility first!
If they are allowed put themselves into a box of laziness, they will also build nothing. Laziness multiplies excuses. Excuses multiply laziness. Suddenly, the only safe place is the couch. We couldn’t possibly step outside – it’s quite dangerous! Solomon observed that “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’ As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.” (Prov. 26:13-14). The box of laziness shrinks the lazy man’s world. The wide world in all its beauty and danger belongs to the bold. Boldness is the antidote to laziness. Our children will not build in absolute safety, because the world is not safe. They must be encouraged to learn—but within guardrails of wisdom. For example, we do not want them to learn by experience which streets are unsafe at night. A child learning how to bake by experience, on the other hand, is messy and inconvenient but could inspire a lifelong love of culinary creativity. They also need to be trained out of the box of laziness – through intentionality and example. It takes intentionality because it is easy to let them be entertained by mindless consumption. But it also takes our example. If we are constantly sucked into a screen ourselves, they certainly won’t do anything different.
The Liberty:
If they do not have the liberty, they have precious few options. For instance, the enslaved people of North Korea possess no liberty and thus have not been able to build. The economy, infrastructure, and success of North Korea have remained flat lined for almost eighty years because its people have no liberty to build. We must work hard if we want our sons and daughters to have the liberty we have had. What are we to do? It may feel that the great events are beyond your control – and they often are – but patient, long-term work accomplishes wondrous things. For example, patient, long-term work has gotten us into the quasi-communistic mess we are in. Read Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals for proof. But God can use patient, long-term work to transform businesses, families, or nations. Preserving liberty does not come cheaply or accidentally. This type of dedicated work will be needed if our grandchildren are to enjoy the liberty to build.
Work patiently. Fight valiantly. Trust our Creator whatever may come. Strive to secure liberty and space for our sons and daughters.
In Part III, we will think through what resources are needed for a strong foundation.
All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
(This article has been modified by the author from the original form on his blog at EnterpriseonPurpose.com)
