Favored By Faithful Fathers
Introduction
Studies reveal that many homes in America are occupied by single parents. Most of these are homes without a father present. What a need there is for us to understand the need for godly fathers in our homes.
Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Valley Community Church, in Orange County, California, gives five biblical qualities that he dubs “God’s Model For Manhood.” These qualities are as follows:
1. COMPASSION
Men who put People before Profit. Philippians 2: 20-21; Luke 10: 30-36
2. CONSISTENCY
Men who put Character before Conformity. Philippians 2: 22; Proverbs 10: 9; Proverbs 20: 7
3. COOPERATION
Men who put Cooperation before Competition. Philippians 2: 25a; Judges 20: 11
4. COMMITMENT
Men who put The Cause Of Christ before Comfort. Philippians 2: 25b-27; James 2: 17
5. COURAGE
Men who put Service before Security.
Philippians 2: 29-30; Romans 12: 1-2; Mark 8: 35; 2 Chronicles 16:19 (Rick Warren).
These are not only good qualities for manhood, but fatherhood as well. All of these traits are needed to be a faithful father to one’s children.
Whether they realize it or not, fathers play a monumental role in setting the tone of their children’s lives. Consider these findings:
One startling bit of research conducted by the Christian Business Men’s Committee found the following: When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent. Keith Meyering, (Discipleship Journal, issue 49, p. 41.)
Without a doubt, fathers play an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of their children, for better or for worse. It is for this reason that we should be thankful for the gift of a faithful father, whom God used to shape our lives.
I. Father's Who Loved Us
A. As Demonstrated by their Devotion
A father’s love for his children is a natural response according to God’s Word.
Psalm 103:13, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” The word “pitieth” means, “to love” or “to have compassion on” (James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.,
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible: published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia; #7355 of the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, pg. 108).
A father’s love and acceptance should not rest upon the child’s performance. Luke 15:20, “And he arose, and came to his father. When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
The “Prodigal Son” had become rebellious and self-willed, and finally left home, to live a wild and wasteful life. This man’s father no doubt disagreed with his son’s actions, but didn’t let that destroy his dedication and devotion to him.
All of us do foolish things in the process of growing up. I’m so glad that God gave me a father who loved me, even when he knew I was making some obviously foolish decisions.
One of the greatest ways that a father can demonstrate his love and devotion for his children is to spend time with them. Time spent with your children will mean more to them than you can imagine.
Charles Francis Adams, the nineteenth century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.” His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” Silas Shotwell, in Homemade, September, 1987.
The lack of a father’s attention can result in irreparable harm to his children. A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father—a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, “The Law of Trusts.” “Do you remember your father?” asked the magistrate. “I remember him well, your honor,” came the reply. Then trying to probe the offender’s conscience, the judge said, “As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?” There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. “I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’ When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying ‘Run along, son; this book must be finished!’ Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend.” The magistrate muttered to himself, “Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!” Homemade, February, 1989.
B. As Demonstrated by their Discipline
1. Discipline is often Instructional
Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
2. Discipline Improves the Intellect
Proverbs 29:15a “The rod and reproof give wisdom…”
I remember times, as a child, when I would seek to excuse my wrong- doing by playing dumb. After that happened two or three times, my dad caught on. It was amazing how much better my brain functioned after a spanking.
3. Discipline is Amazingly Inspirational
Proverbs 22:15, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Proverbs 20:30, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”
4. Discipline Assures the Child of the Parent’s Interest
Discipline emotionally and psychologically assures the child of their parent’s interest.
Proverbs 3:12, “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”Prov.13: 24 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
The idea of the word “betimes” is that discipline should be practiced early and earnestly. In other words, it should be done when it is needed, and in such a way that neither the child, nor the parent, takes it lightly.
II. Fathers Who Labored For Us
2 Corinthians 12:14, “For I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”
1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
I remember waiting (not so patiently) for my dad to come home from work in the afternoon. He was usually covered in sweat and sawdust when he stepped from his truck. He worked hard to meet our needs. Someone once said, “God gives the birds their food, but He doesn’t throw it into their nests” (Traditional).
III. Father's Who Lead Us
A. A Father Leads by his Words
Proverbs 7:1-2a, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2a Keep my commandments and live…”
Dads, whether you know it or not, you are instructing your children—not merely by what you say, but by how you say it. Be careful that your words don’t come across in a critical or belittling tone.
B. A Father Leads by his Ways
Proverbs 23:26, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”
A parent’s words mean little if their ways don’t back up what they say. Dad, can you confidently say to your children, “Observe my ways?”
There are a number of things that a father can teach his children, without saying a word. Honesty before God and man (II Cor.8: 21).
The virtues of hard work (II Thess.3: 10).
The virtues of sexual purity (Heb.13: 4).
The importance of attendance in God’s house (Heb.10: 25).
The importance of respect for authority (I Pet.2: 13, 14).
General respect for all people, especially the children’s mother (Rom.12: 10; Eph.5: 25).
C. Father Leads by his Worship
Deuteronomy 6:4-7, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
Fathers should be the worship leaders of the home. Being the head of your home includes the vital responsibility of teaching your children the things of God. It was my father and mother’s devotion to God that was responsible for the eventual salvation of all their children.
Conclusion
Dad, your children not only need to hear your words of devotion to God, they also need to see your devotion to God by the way you live and act. Mark well these words from Charles Spurgeon:
A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching. (C.H. Spurgeon.)