Word of Encouragement (6/11/2020)
As we reflect on God’s calling, it is helpful to know that we have more than one calling in life. At a given moment, we have many callings pertaining to the various spheres of our life—our family, our work, our neighborhood, our church, etc. Let us consider our family-related callings. Family, of course, is the most basic social unit, the building block of our society. Of the central importance of our family relations, Horatius Bonar said,
“All that is beautiful in human relationship, or tender in human affection, or gentle in human intercourse; all that is lovable and precious in the movements of a human heart from its lowest depth to its uppermost surface—all these are wrapt up in the one word: family. For close‑knit bonds, for steadfast faithfulness in love, for depth of sympathy, for endurance in trial and danger—where shall we find anything that can be compared with the story of earth’s family circles? Conjugal love, parental love, filial love, brotherly love, sisterly love—all are here. The many streams of human affection empty themselves into it, or flow out of it, for the fertility and gladness of the earth” (The Night of Weeping).
During this time of self-quarantine and stay-at-home orders, we are spending a lot more time with our family members. As we do so, it is all the more important for us to take our “domestic callings” seriously. Today, I want to share what the Westminster Larger Catechism says about the calling/responsibility of superiors to inferiors (even though it is not limited to family relations). First, let’s look at what is required of superiors toward their inferiors:
“It is required of superiors according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love, pray for, and bless their inferiors, to instruct, counsel, and admonish them; countenancing (i.e., supporting or encouraging), commending, and rewarding such as do well; and discountenancing, reproving, and chastising such as do ill; protecting, and providing for them all things necessary for soul and body: and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage (i.e., conduct), to procure glory to God, honour to themselves, and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them” (Q. 129).
I hope these words are a good reminder of what God is calling those who are in the position of leadership to do for those under their care. Now let’s look at what is forbidden:
“The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them, an inordinate seeking of themselves, their own glory, ease, profit, or pleasure, commanding things unlawful, or not in the power of inferiors to perform; counselling, encouraging, or favouring them in that which is evil; dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good; correcting them unduly; careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger; provoking them to wrath; or any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour” (Q. 130).
I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds these words convicting. As those who are entrusted with the care of those who are under our charge, we need to lead and teach by example. It is tempting to think that our family would be better and we would be happier only if those around us would change first. But as Jesus said, we are to look at the log in our eye first before we point out the speck in the eyes of others (Matt. 7:3).
But it is not all up to us, is it? We have the true Superior, who loved and cared for His inferiors to the point of laying down His life and giving Himself wholly for our eternal salvation. Now, risen and victorious at the right hand of God, He is still hard at work to bring our salvation to its glorious completion. An important part of His work is enabling us to live as God’s redeemed in conformity to Christ. It is His Spirit, who is at work in us, to be loving and wise and good superiors in the likeness of Christ. Let us give our humble and faithful obedience to His call, diligently praying for His empowerment.