By
Shelby G. Floyd
Our nation and the church need better fathers to assume their God-given roles in the raising, mentoring, guiding, and bringing up their children in the way of truth and righteousness. Children are the building blocks of society. As some of the advertisements say,
“Fathers, Take Time to Be a Dad Today!”
A father is respected because he gives his children leadership…
Appreciated because he gives his children care…
Valued because he gives his children time…
Loved because he gives his children the one thing
They treasure most—himself.
David by inspiration describes the benefits to fathers who take their commitment seriously: “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7 NKJV). Let us take note of some of those responsibilities and fulfill them with God’s help to the best of our ability.
Fathers Provoke Not Children to Anger
Concerning the domestic duties of the home, the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6: 4). In the previous verses, the apostle had instructed the children to be in submission and obedience to their parents; but in the text under consideration, the fathers are commanded to be firm, yet gentle to their children, for he says, “fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.” The word provoke conveys the meaning of “to arouse to wrath, to provoke, to exasperate, to irritate and to anger.” Paul warns the fathers against being overly strict and oppressive, and thereby breaking the spirit of the child. This does not mean that the fathers should never cross the wishes of the child, but it does mean that they should be firm, yet kind.
Fathers Should Bring Up Their Children in the Lord
Fathers should not provoke their children to wrath because this will cause them to be disheartened and unruly: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3: 21). In our day, the danger is to the other extreme, that of overindulgence and tolerance and a lack of training the children by the parents. Therefore, in contrast to the fathers provoking the children to wrath, Paul says, “…but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” To bring up a child simply means to educate and nurture and train the child; it conveys the idea of nourishment.
Fathers Should Provide the Physical and Spiritual Needs of the Children
In bringing up a child, the fathers not only have the responsibility of providing physical nourishment for the child’s body, but also mental and. spiritual nourishment for the child’s mind and soul. Bringing up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord involves a conscious plan of training and education. Paul instructed the fathers to bring the children up in “the nurture of the Lord.” The original word for nurture has been defined:
“The whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment): it includes also the care and training of the body.”
—Thayer, page 473.
The Fatherhood of God Is the Model
Fathers, the best model of fatherhood is God the Father. God the Father is the archetype of all fatherhood in heaven and on earth. “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is names” (Ephesians 3:14-15).
Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd, minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142