Cause for Success - Message to Missionary kids and Pastor's kids

Cause for Success - Message to Mks and Pks

What is True Success?

Success in the eyes of the Lord may diverge from those of the world. Many with worldly lenses may think of success as fame, attention, power, wealth, or health. The success of the world can also be heavily associated with self-exaltation. Yet, let us constantly remember, as Christ said in Matthew 16:26 and Luke 9:25, that “there is no true profit even if one gains the whole world, yet forfeits one’s soul”. Thus, the verse hints at how success – in God’s perspective – is about the perseverance of the soul – becoming living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and honorable vessels (2 Timothy 2:21) for Christ and His Kingdom.

Matthew 16:25, the preceding verse, states how one who would save his life will lose it, whereas one who loses his life for His sake will find it – epitomizing the essence of self-denial and self-emptiness (Philippians 2:5-8). To find life is equivalent to being spiritually alive (Ephesians 2:1-10), and one who has yet to be justified by Grace through faith (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7), and sanctified by the continual abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2), is spiritually dead. Nevertheless, how can one – especially an MK (Missionary Kid) or PK (Pastor’s Kid) – become successful in the viewpoint that truly matters? 

The Key to Success

Many missionary kids and pastor’s kids have (hopefully) Christ-centered, theologically sound, and Biblically proficient parents – veteran warriors of Christ who are well-equipped with the full-armor of God. These parents have dealt (and are dealing) tons of damage towards the dominion of the ‘god’ of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Hence, in the eyes of our one and only true enemy, the devil, our parents are fearless fighters who are ‘most wanted’ in his sight, because they are oftentimes great examples of people fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and enduring till the end (Matthew 24:13) on the front lines in the spiritual warfare.

A huge advantage a second-generation Christian, especially an MK or PK, could have in order to develop into fearless warriors of Christ, is by having parents whom they can imitate and follow – similar to Timothy having Paul as his spiritual father (1 Timothy 1:2).

In contrast, the Parable of the Sower illustrates the harsh reality of some who do not have these advantages and fails to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ – because even though they hear the word of the Kingdom, they do not understand it; and the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Matthew 13:18-19). Continuing with verses 20 to 21, Christ states how some will even receive the Word with joy, yet, because of their lack of a solid foundation in Christ, the Cornerstone of our faith, they fail to endure tribulations and persecutions.

Compared with those who have heard the word of the Kingdom, but do not understand, or lack a solid foundation, many MKs and PKs are blessed to spiritually succeed because of their parents. Oftentimes, they are more than capable of acting as their children's spiritual mentors, models, and overseers. This is stated as many MKs and PKs will certainly have a better understanding of the infallible, inerrant, and incorrupt Word of God – which will never pass away even if heaven and earth does (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33) – even if they fail to comprehend what their Sunday school teachers say; because they have their parents! (Who are oftentimes far more equipped than many Sunday school teachers, for they have had training in seminaries) On the other hand, many second generation Christians will have a far lower chance to “hear the word of the Kingdom and fail to understand it”, compared to those who do not have a valuable spiritual resource which they can access in their own households.

The parents of many MKs and PKs possess a far greater role than merely being a spiritual resource, but a spiritual stronghold that is able to provide spiritual, relational, and emotional support to their heirs. On the contrary, many who have received God’s Word with joy, but do not have a constantly accessible source of spiritual support, may fail to withstand the enemy’s attack; being powerless to put on Christ.

For this reason, many missionary kids and pastor’s kids are greatly blessed by having God-fearing parents – the key to being living sacrifices and honorable vessels for Adonai Yahweh. If each and every MK inherited all of their parents’ godly and spiritual qualities, they would surely be well-equipped to fight the good fight of faith and endure till the end. Think about how much harder it would be to foster a solid foundation in Christ even when those in your own household are against what you believe, without even mentioning some Christian families that are new to the faith, inexperienced to the message of righteousness, and incompatible with solid food (Hebrews 5:13-14).

The Cause for Success

Regardless of our financial backgrounds, many of us, mks and pks, are born into families of great spiritual wealth. We are blessed and privileged, yet, some may take it for granted. Just as how a wealthy child could easily be successful if one puts his or her vast resources in good use, the way we think of our parents as our spiritual mentors and models may determine our spiritual growth and success.

It is written in 2 Timothy 3:10-11, “You [Timothy], however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” Apostle Paul commends Timothy as a good soldier of Christ and a worker approved by God, because of his spiritual son’s perseverance in following the footsteps of his spiritual father. Similar to Apostle Paul, I believe many parents of MKs and PKs are qualified to say to their successors: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Yet, do we follow our parents, our spiritual mentors and models which God has blessed us with – in their teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, and even in times of tribulations and persecutions?

It is written in Proverbs 1:8-9, “Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck” and in Proverbs 6:22 “When you walk, they [your parents] will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.” As much as I do not want to say this, there are some Mks and Pks that can be so-called as “spoiled”, because they take for granted their resources and opportunities for success. They are not spoiled simply because they are born into wealthy families, whether spiritually or financially, for there are those who are mature, making effective use of their resources and opportunities, and becoming influential and successful people, making a difference in others’ lives. Rather, they are spoiled because they show by their choices in life that they do not value the spiritual wealth that they have been given. Do we take for granted our spiritual mentors and models – our wonderful resource for being a good and faithful servant to the Lord God of Hosts?

2 Timothy 1:3-14 is titled in the ESV as: “Guard the deposit entrusted to you”. Let us acknowledge that we are our parents’ inheritance, and their spiritual legacy continues in our lives. That being so, let us not aim to be successful in the eyes of the world, but as faithful soldiers and stewards; fighting the good fight of faith and conducting ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27), which our parents have already demonstrated. And finally, let us find success in guarding the good deposit entrusted to us with the help of the Holy Spirit - who lives in us (2 Timothy 1:14) – succeeding their legacy by carrying on their baton. I do not imply that all MKs or PKs are to “succeed” their parents by engaging in mission or full-time ministry, yet, we are to carry their legacy in the lives which we live – for it firstly reflects their deposit placed in our lives, as well the relationship we have with our Creator.

Our cause of success firstly lies in acknowledging one of the greatest spiritual gifts we could ever have, that is, our wonderful and loving parents, secondly, by following their footsteps as people who are worthy of the gospel, and lastly, inheriting their spiritual and godly qualities.

-Barnabas