He is a comforter, a counselor, and a consoler. He waited for our arrival at home when we were up late at night and offered us a hug when we were down. He was our golfing buddy, our workout partner, and the cook when mom was not there. He went to the movies with us when our friends would not and gave us the toughest lessons we ever learned. While many have known him as Mr. So and So; to us he was “dad.”
Father’s are an important part of society. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “18.4 million children, 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.”[1] Many children without fathers would do things that they would not normally do if they had one in their lives. To God, fathers are important and are honored by Him. The word “father” appears 1,126 times in the Bible. Christians have God as their Father (1 John 3:1). All father’s should model their lives after the Father of Spirits (Hebrews 12:9). “A group of first-graders was asked to draw a picture of God in their Sunday School class. Their pictures contained some interesting theology. One child depicted God in the form of a brightly colored rainbow. Another presented him as an old man coming out of the clouds. One little boy drew God with a remarkable resemblance to Superman. The best picture, though, came from one little girl. She said, “I didn’t know what God looked like, so I just drew a picture of my daddy.”[2]
Truly, the best example of fatherhood is God and all fathers should model their lives after Him. What does a godly father look like?
Godly Fathers Are Spiritual Leaders (Genesis 18:19). While mothers lead the children in their own specific ways, the father is the ultimate leader in the home. Like God’s leadership, fathers should lead by being an Abraham (Genesis 18:19), not an Eli (1 Samuel 2:25; 3:13). What do fatherly spiritual leaders look like?
They are good husbands. Theodore Hesburgh said, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” A godly father will love his wife (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7). While most fathers work away from home, their leadership in the home is a role families NEED and DESIRE. They are good examples (Joshua 24:14-15). One said[3] that Joshua did not say:
“Me without my house.”
“My house without me.”
“Not me and not my house.”
Joshua included himself first in his claim of allegiance and goal of direction. Charles Spurgeon would say, “Train up a child in the way he should go--but be sure you go that way yourself.” Clarence Budington Kelland proclaimed, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” While fathers formally teach, they also teach their children through experience and example. A father can lead by example in his:
Words. He teaches by how he converses with others and with what words he chooses to use.
Actions. A father’s step is usually a child’s first lesson. His son is taught how to be a godly husband and father; his daughter is taught about the man she should be seeking.
Decisions. A father who chooses worship over practice sets a good example for his children.
Also, it is of upmost importance that fathers refrain from sin because they are leaders. If the leader fails, what will happen to all those who follow him? Billy Sunday said, “Be careful, father, or while you are taking one lap around the devil’s track your boy will make six.” Truly a father’s example provides instruction and leadership for the family.
They are good teachers. George Herbert would rightly conclude that, “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” A father’s instruction is key to a child’s spiritual, mental, social, and emotional success and development. Truly, how many homes are infiltrated with sin and destroyed because fathers choose not to care, discipline, or teach (Ephesians 6:4)? One boy could not wait to get out of class due to his disliking of his teachers. The bell rang and he felt free as he walked to football practice, waiting to meet his coaches. As he stepped onto the field he saw all of the coaches and said “oh no.” His friend asked what the problem was and he replied “My dad is one of the coaches.” “What is the matter with that,” his friend said. “Well, unlike you, I have a coach, but my coach is also my teacher!” A father’s instruction is not limited to example. Formal teaching is vital to a child’s growth and life (Proverbs 1:8; 4:1; 22:6; 23:22). Discipline is also important (Proverbs 3:12; 13:24; 29:17; Ephesians 6:4). Fathers become glad when children are faithful (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; 23:24; 28:7) and it is discipline that keeps children from being worse off in the future (Proverbs 19:18). Godly fathers will lead their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
Godly Fathers Are Laborious Workers (1 Timothy 5:8). A father’s second most important role in the home is to provide for it. Some men may be lazy working not at all; however, some may work too much. 70-80 hour work weeks can be hard on the family. Victor Eskew said, “Too many hours at work and too many jobs bring harm to his home.”[4] Overworking is dangerous (cf. Exodus 18:13-18). On the other hand, lazy fathers are condemned. It is the role of the father to provide and when they do, God uplifts them. It is unnatural for a father to withhold the support for his children. One does not expect his children to support the parents while in the home without a job! Solomon made the application for all able hands, but the lesson can be applied to fathers: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it” (Proverbs 3:27). Fathers should remember that they are servants, not the served.[5] They need to model the attitude of their Savior (Matthew 20:28). God extols and honors fathers who work hard and provide for their families.
Godly Fathers are Truly Caring (Luke 15:11-32). “A father had told his son he would send him to sleep in the attic with only bread and water for his supper if he disobeyed. Well, the boy disobeyed and was sent to the attic. But the father couldn’t eat. He had his son on his mind and in his heart. His wife said, ‘I know what you are thinking. But you must not bring the boy from the attic. It would cause him to disobey again. he would have no respect for your word. You must not cheapen your relation as his father by failing to keep your word.’ The husband replied, ‘You are right. I will not break my promise. But he is so lonely up there.’ He kissed his wife goodnight, entered the attic, ate bread and water with his son, and when the child went to sleep on the hard boards, his father’s arm was his pillow.”[6]
While many have the idea that fathers are complete opposites of gentle, compassionate, and caring souls, actually, many fathers are sympathizers. In fact, God is compared to a father who “hath mercy on sons” (Psalm 103:13a, YLT). The Scriptures numerously show that a father is caring (Numbers 11:12; Proverbs 3:12; Isaiah 49:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:11). From Luke 15:11-32 we see such a thesis brought forth.
Fathers wait for their children to come home (Luke 15:20). “Bring her back at 11:30 p.m.” said one dad. “I’ll wait up for you,” said another. This author’s father would surely do the same thing when he used to come home late in the evenings. In this parable, one could imagine the father looking down the road, waiting for his son to come home. While fathers care about the physical well-being of their children, they never forget the spiritual well-being of their little ones, no, not for a minute.
Fathers are ultimate forgivers (Luke 15:21-24). Sons sin stupidly, while daughters decide daringly. There are many things children do to anger their father. Because children are not perfect, fathers must be willing to offer forgiveness when necessary. The father here immediately forgave his son when he returned. Note what he did not say:
“I will NEVER forgive you.”
“That’s right. You deserve to be a slave for how you treated me.”
Although sons and daughters sin and error, father’s still love them (2 Samuel 18:5, 33). Like God, fathers will welcome their children home when they come back to him. Upon repentance and confession, God and fathers, act as if the disappointments never happened. Godly fathers are kind and forgiving.
God places important emphasis on fatherhood, for He Himself is a father. Looking at Him, we can find a perfect model so we may know how to behave as godly fathers. Let us strive to be leaders, instructors, and lights to our families, to the church, and to the world, showing Jesus where ever we go!
Endnotes
[3]Allen Webster Bible marking MSOP. [4]https://oceansidechurchofchrist.net/Sermons/SermonsHTML/2012/2012-06-17AM_God_the_Perfect_Father.html
[6]Lost Source Other Tracts
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