Parenting is a Team Sport

A significant number of men are sports fans. Some don’t even care if it is football, baseball, basketball, or racing, as long as it is competitive. They become couch commentators and coaches, yelling at the players in hopes of seeing their favorites win. If thy lose though, it’s usually easy to determine if it was because a star player tried to win the game all by themselves. Winning requires teamwork. Parenting is much the same. It requires a partnership with equal players.

Men must stand together with their wives as they love and serve God and raise their children to love and serve Him. We can find a great example of this in the bible with Aquila and Priscilla. They’re a couple that we meet in the New Testament. The bible gives us a glimpse into their lives as one team for God.

The Dynamic Duo

Aquila and Priscilla were a couple after God’s own heart. Though they didn’t have children, they perfectly model how effective you and your wife can be when working together as one to raise your children, serving in your church, and loving as a positive Christ-like influence in your community.

In several books of the bible we find praises sung to this couple. They were blessed, and they also blessed others no matter where they went. Here are just a few of the things that made them so successful as a couple:

• They helped establish churches.
• They opened their home to believers.
• They earned the apostle Paul’s praise.
• They were tradespeople and didn’t mind hard work.
• They were sold out for Christ!

The Power of Team Effort

Aquila and Priscilla used their spiritual gifts in complete harmony, and if you read those verses in the bible that speak of them, you’ll notice that the two were always mentioned together. While each person is responsible for their own spiritual gifts and development, these two grew leaps and bounds together. They chose to grow together instead of separate from each other. Your children will see you when you work together as a team. If you work against each other, they will notice that too. Children do what they see a lot more than what they are told. Make sure what they see is harmony between you and your wife.

Another thing observed about the faith of Aquila and Priscilla is that their faith is exhibited without competition between each other. Instead, they are a team. Of course, you may say this couple had the advantage of having the apostle Paul as their teacher, but we have to remember we have a teacher that is far greater: the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

One final tried and true tactic that can be taken from their playbook is the tag-team approach they used. Make sure you are always in agreement with one another on the issues that matter most. When you aren’t, pray together, speak with knowledge to one another, and encourage each other until you find the Lord has put you united you on the subject. Then, share the weight and the blessings of that unity in whatever you must face and always be sure you do it together. Aquila and Priscilla were both willing to die for the gospel. While our current times won’t likely ever require such a sacrifice from us, a sacrifice of self is sometimes required. Always ask God to search your heart and reveal what He has found. Ask Him to remove the blinders from your eyes so you can see the condition of your own heart in situations. That simple prayer will go a long way.

RESPOND:

God, thank You for my wife. I want to be an encourager to her, to bless her, and work together with her—not against her. Please show us how and where we can serve You together. Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Dad After God’s Own Heart

• letting your kids know you love and care for them
• learning the keys to positive and effective communication
• knowing the qualities kids need most in a dad

REFLECT:

How do you and your spouse operate as a team? Celebrate and encourage these moments and traits. Is there an area you need to sit down and discuss where this teamwork is lacking? If so, make a date to discuss it together in the near future.

REMEMBER:

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.”