Parents as a team

Adam and Eve followed each other into sin then blamed each other. They had two good sons and one murderer.

• Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to the husband with her, and he ate.
• Genesis 3:12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree and I ate.”

Isaac and Rebecca each had their own favorites and kept secrets from each other. Their sons were at war with each other their whole lives.

• Genesis 25:27-28 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebecca loved Jacob.

Note: Jacob’s appreciation for Esau was not for Esau but for his own selfish comforts. How many of us are guilty of the same? Do we appreciate a child for it’s own sake or because this particular one allows us to live in peace while the other drives us crazy?

Do not play favorites. Jacob’s favoritism nearly got Joseph killed, destroyed his family’s relationships and caused him many years of grief. Even if you feel you are not able to change your feelings, you certainly can control your actions!

· Genesis 37:3 Now Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day he gave Joseph a special gift—a beautiful robe.

· Genesis 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. He mourned deeply for his son for many days. ³⁵His family all tried to comfort him, but it was no use. “I will die in mourning for my son,” he would say, and then begin to weep.

God shows no favoritism.

• Acts 10:34, NKJV. "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.'"
• Romans 2:11, NKJV says, "For there is no partiality with God."

Why does God condemn favoritism? Because it reveals a destructive double standard.

• Malachi 2:9, TLB. "Therefore, I have made you contemptible in the eyes of all the people; for you have not obeyed Me, but you let your favorites break the law without rebuke."

Zacharias and Elizabeth pulled together, served together and had a great son.

• Luke 1:5-6 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
• Luke 1:59-63 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.

Parenting doesn’t have to be traditional to be successful. Lois and Eunice – Timothy’s grandmother and mother – pulled together when his dad left them and had a great son.

• 2 Timothy 1:5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
• 2 Timothy 3:14-15 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.