Title: Fathering a Faithful Family
Bible Book: Psalms 128
Author: Mike Stone
Subject: Father; Family; Home
Objective:
Introduction
This psalm is about being a real man. You can be born a male, but it takes maturity to become a man. Or as someone has said, "You're only young once, but immaturity can last forever."
I. His Character
A. Marked by Praise (1a)
Some men leave spiritual matters to their wives. But we need men like Joshua in Joshua 24:10.
Guys, do you want to be the "leader of the home?" Then lead your family in prayer. Lead your family in Bible study. Lead your family in holiness. Spiritual headship is always given for the benefit of the body, not the head. If you want to really be the "head of the home" then act for the benefit of your family, not yourself.
B. Measured by Persistence (1b)
This man is the evergreen of Psalm 1.
Statisticians tell us that 1/3 of children do not live with their dads. 70% of men in prison grew up without a dad. Since 1940 the divorce rate in America has risen 1,420%.
Stew Webber in Tender Warrior writes, "Fathers and husbands need to learn faithfulness. Stand by your promises. Never, never let go no matter what. When marriage isn't fun, stay with it. When parenting is over your head, stay with it. When work is crushing your spirit, don't let it beat you. When the local church is overwhelmed with pettiness, stay faithful, stay by it. When your children let you down, pick them up. When your wife goes through a six-month mood swing, live with it and be faithful to her. When it's fourth and 14, and there's no time on the clock, throw another pass: stay with it. Be a man. Be faithful."
Understand that the heart of staying power is sacrifice, giving one's self up for the good of another. For the ultimate example of staying power, look to Jesus Christ. That's what the Bible means when it says, 'Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.'"
Anybody can leave. It takes a man of character to stay.
Ladies' Home Journal was interviewing Roger Staubach and the reporter referred to Joe Namath's sex life. Staubach said his sex life was every bit as active as Namath's, but it was all with the same woman!
C. Matured by Productivity (2a)
The Psalm 1 man "yields his fruit in due season."
Genesis 3:19 reads, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground."
Paul wrote, "If a man doesn't work he ought not eat."
A man who will not provide for his family is worse than an infidel. If you are physically able you need to be working and productive, even if you are retired.
D. Manifest by Peace (2b)
There is something satisfying about work. Someone once said, "Live a good and godly life. That way when you are old you can look back and enjoy it a second time." That's great advice about life in general. And it's EXCELLENT advice for fatherhood.
II. His Companion (3a)
In his commentary, John Phillips mentions a few things that vines do. Let's investigate them in regard to a godly wife.
A. She clings (She needs security)
Willard Harley in "His Needs, Her Needs" lists "security" as the "first thing she can't do without."
She needs financial security. This is why she is concerned about bill collectors. By the way, you don't have to be rich to have financial security.
She needs homeland security. This is why she doesn't want to move all the time.
Men like to build houses and women like to build homes.
She needs relational security. This is why flirting with another woman is so troubling. This is why pornography is so devastating. She needs to know that your relationship is secure.
She needs physical security. Don't make her push the trash to the road at night. Don't make her get up to check on "things that go bump in the night." That's your job.
B. She climbs (She needs support)
One man said, "She must need support. She's been on my back all day!" Be there for her. She needs to be able to count on you.
C. She contributes (She needs significance)
One of the best ways to show that her work is significant is to help her with it - or at least don't mess it up! This is especially true for the stay-at-home mother. When I help Andrea it says, "Your contribution to the home is significant. So significant that I will help!" By the way, the greatest way to acknowledge significance is with a simple "thank you." We would never consider letting a stranger do for us what our wives do without expressing thanks. Let's do no less for our wives.
D. She crushes (She needs sensitivity)
Grapes are put into separate bags at the grocery store. Here's a husband as strong as a wall, but gentle. Peter calls the wife the "weaker vessel." Be a gentle-man to your wife!
In a counseling session I once admonished a man to treat his wife like a queen, like a treasured possession. The wife interrupted and said, "Pastor, he doesn't have to treat me like a queen. I just wish he'd treat me as well as he treats strangers."
III. His Children (3b-6)
A. Heavenly Gifts (3b-4)
See Psalm 127:3-4
The value of something is measured by what you would be willing to pay for it. Most of us would sell everything we own for our children. If you wouldn't take any amount of money for your children that is evidence that you are rich!
B. Holy Generations (5-6)
Olive trees are reportedly able to produce income for a family for as many as 30 generations. The man who plants them knows that the greatest return will come after he dies.
Conclusion
Someone was visiting a little village, and they said to someone who had lived there all their life, "Have you had any famous men born here?" They said, "No, no famous men have been born here...only babies."
So great men aren't born; great men are made.
Strong families are born at the marriage altar. But they are made in the crucible of daily living and lifelong commitment to God and to one another.
Guys, cultivate the garden of your home. Keep your hands to the plow, look to Christ for your strength, and FATHER A FAITHFUL FAMILY.
