Beth-El Baptist Church
7/10/05
What is a father supposed to do?
There is often confusion and misapplication of scripture in the realm of relationships whether between parents and children or husband and wife. The most important of institutional relationships will be evaluated over the next several weeks to buildup a picture of what these relationships are supposed to look like. This week the relationship between fathers and their children will be evaluated.
1. What examples of fathers should we follow?
Matthew 23:8-10
Romans 8:14-15
Galatians 4:6-7
The only really good example of a father in scripture is our own father. The father of lights, the only heavenly father there is. In order to be a good and proper father, we need to turn to our own real father and seek His guidance and counsel.
2. What does a father do for his children?
Matthew 3:16-17; 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35 Pleased with them/loves them
Matthew 6:1 Rewards them
Matthew 6:8, 32; Luke 12:30 Knows what they need
Matthew 7:9-11 Gives good things
Matthew 11:25; 12:50; 16:15-17; John 8:28 Teaches them
Matthew 18:12-14 Rejoices in them
Mark 11:25-26 Forgives them
John 5:19-22 Trains them for and gives them responsibility
John 6:27 Protects them
John 6:32 Provides good food
Galatians 4:6-7 Leaves them an inheritance
2 Peter 1:17 Honors them
Proverbs 22:6 Trains them in the Word of God
Ephesians 6:4 Nurture them and instructs them in the things of God
Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:5-8 Gives discipline
Proverbs 30:7-9 Gives only what is needed, not more
1 Thessalonians 2:11 Exhorts, comforts, charges (witnesses of) them
The father is to give his children on the best of things, but not more than they need. He never seeks their harm but has their best interest at heart and in their mind. He holds them up in high esteem and honors them. He is proud of them. He continually educates them in the ways and words of God.
3. Since God is our true father, what else about His actions towards us should fathers take heed?
Psalm 91:2 Provides refuge (secure protection)
Jeremiah 31:3 Loves them
Ezekiel 16:6-9; Isaiah 45:5 Clothes them and cleans them
Psalm 9:10 Does not forsake (turn their back on) them
Isaiah 45:3 Calls them by name to make them understand that they are special
Malachi 4:5-6 Heart for their children
In general, the father is to take care of his children by providing for the needs, even their basic essentials of food, clothing, and protection. These provisions will give a sense of security to the child, as they know that they are taken care of because they are loved and not because they have to. Malachi tells us that the heart of the fathers is to be turned to the children. This means that we are to love them and know them and desire the best for them.
4. Since the father is to provide for their needs and not so much for their wants, how is he to know what is needed?
Exodus 33:12-13, 17
Deuteronomy 2:7-8; 8:2-3
2 Samuel 7:20
1 Chronicles 28:9
In order for the fathers to know what their children need, they need to know them. This means that the fathers need to really know their children. It will take a lifetime to learn about them to know their likes and dislikes, what hurts and what heals, how to honor them and make them feel loved.
In order to be a good father it is essential that a father knows his children so that he can discern what is best for them and provide for their real needs, not what they think they need but what their real needs are. This will take time and energy on the part of the father to understand that the job is not more important then the children but that the children are more important than the job. This is what is meant by the father needing to honor, respect, protect, and make them feel secure.