Fatherhood

  • Saturday, June 20, 2015
  • Steve Ellison

God has given much authority, and even more responsibility to fathers.  Social workers study extensively and consistently report that good fathering is of the utmost importance in the well-being of children.  Therefore it is right and good that we ought to celebrate good fathers.  Furthermore, we should encourage, train, exhort, and equip those fathers who are lacking.  This will bless the children and benefit society.  However, there is a far better reason for Christians to facilitate good fathering.  God created the family unit to illustrate truths about Himself.  Earthly fathers are meant to magnify our Heavenly Father.  It is a tragedy beyond comprehension when earthly fathers are absent, unloving, fail to protect and provide, etc.  These failures create a false view of our Heavenly Father.  Creating a false view of God destroys the home, the Church, and society.  

While there are many Biblical passages containing this idea, Ephesians 5:25-6:4 is the most straightforward description,   Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.  6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (NASU)

Certainly, this passage speaks about fathers disciplining and instructing children in the Lord but first and foremost, fathers are called to love their wives.  This is the best and most important gift a father can give to his children.  Fathers who love their wives illustrate the love of the heavenly father and also provide the stability and feeling of safety that children need and crave.   In case we might not understand what it means to love, God spelled it out in this passage.  Fathers are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.  Christ died for the church.  That is easy to understand but hard to do. Verse 26 indicates that this type of love will sanctify the recipient of said love.  A sanctified mother is a great help to children.  Verses 28-29 command fathers to love their wives as they love themselves.  Again, lest we misunderstand, God spells it out.  We are told to nourish and cherish our wives as we would our own bodies.  That is another tall order.  Fathers who love their wives in the way that this passage describes are pleasing to the Lord, a blessing to their children, and a benefit to society.  

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pastorsteve8800@gmail.com

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