Worked Out of a Job

John 1:37 “And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”

Have you ever had someone say, “Your kids are so cute-You probably hope they don’t ever grow up!” There may be some people that hold to this sentiment, but I am not one of them. I cannot wait until my three kids grow up. I do not mean that I do not love them or appreciate the age they are at now; but as a parent, I long to see the day when my kids can get along on their own-and help me out later on! It is a beautiful day when kids can wash the dishes, take out the trash, and feed the dog. My desire for my children is for them to be able to take responsibility for themselves.

Before John the Baptist opened him mouth and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” in John 1:36, these two disciples were following him. But to what purpose-to what graduation-did John have disciples? To point to Christ, to make “learners” of God’s dear Son. From the beginning, John did not make disciples for himself, for his family, or for a great kingdom. He pointed to the reason he had disciples-the Lamb of God Who came to take away the sin of the world.

With our kids, the first place our kids and grandkids should learn about Christ is at home. The word disciple means “learner,” and that should be the goal of a parent-to work yourself out of job by pointing your kids to the Lord Jesus. First, this requires you to take ownership. As a parent, you have a God-given responsibility to teach and train your kids. You should not take this responsibility lightly, as you will one day give account to God.

These two disciples heard John, then they saw Jesus and followed Him. There may be other institutions or godly influences in your kid’s life-school, church, government, etc.-but none bares more responsibility than you. Your church ought to have a part; it would be wrong for you to spurn God’s provision. But do not use your church as an excuse for ultimately not taking responsibility. Parents must take ownership.

After you take ownership, you must transfer ownership. John the Baptist lost two disciples that day. His own disciples later would become jealous and say in John 3:26, “He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.” The disciples thought John was losing his following-“all men come to him”-but John realized that he was simply transferring ownership to the Lord Jesus. John might have worked himself out of a job, but that was his job.

I long for the day when my two boys are men, love God, and love God’s Son. I long for the same for my daughter when she becomes a young lady. As a parent, when the day comes that I have worked myself out of a job, it will be because I have transferred the ownership I have taken to the Rightful Owner.