“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
Fatherhood is an essential part of God’s design for families and for raising children for the glory of God. Ephesians 6:4 exhorts,
“bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
The effort made to nurture and admonish children in the lord is the means whereby fathers stand fast in the faith, act like men, and show themselves strong.
Fulfilling the role as a godly father begins with the first and great command to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. This is the starting place to become a man of God standing firm and uncompromising in the faith, acting like a man, and being strong.
The Absence of Fathers
The absence of fathers in homes has been devastating to children and society. The absence of fathers standing in the faith, acting like men, and being strong has produced wayward and unstable children, who in turn grow into wayward and unstable adults, which in turn produces a wayward and unstable culture. The failure of fatherhood results in the inevitable failure of culture and civilization.
Society is a reflection of the choices individuals make.
Fathers should stand guard, be vigilant, and protect their families not only physically but spiritually as well.
Motherhood complements and completes fatherhood. But motherhood is not sufficient for a well-rounded child. Both are necessary. One without the other is crippling to children and to society.
Two Parent Home
Each of us grew up in a family. Some in 2 parent families, some in single parent families, and some without parents. Some with biological parents, others with adoptive parents, and still others with foster parents.
Growing up without both a mother and father is not a reason to be angry at those who do. We do not resent and denigrate two parent homes because it is “unrealistic”, as some claim. It is realistic. It has been done. Just because the family unit with two parents is not the norm now, does not mean it is unrealistic.
Anything God designs and plans is realistic. A two parent family is the right kind of family. What I mean by right is God’s design. And so we teach God’s plan. We exalt God’s plan. We honor God’s plan.
Some families suffer the loss of a parent due to a tragic death. A family related to me by marriage recently lost their man (husband, father, and grandfather) in the home due to CIVD-19. The loss of that father in the home has caused suffering.
Some families suffer due to sinful choices. A father might abandon his family. Regardless of the reason, the man who abandons his family is worse than an infidel. First Timothy 5:8 says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
We honor those mothers who have assumed the extra duty to care for their children in the absence of having a father. We honor those who step up and adopt and foster children due to the lack of parents. We do not demean those who struggle with the extra burden of loss or of being abandoned by their man of the house. It is an added burden. It is a breakdown in God’s design and plan for the family and children.
And for those children who have reached adulthood safe, sane, and spiritually mature in spite of the breakdown in their family, we congratulate them. Likewise to those who help children grow up healthy, safe, and spiritually sound we applaud. Families, pastors, teachers, coaches, and friends who have a part in the growth of children are to be greatly commended.
But fathers should not rely on others to do their job for them. It is up to every father to be honorable, responsible, and accountable, to stand fast in the faith, act like men, and be strong.
You don’t have to be perfect. You simply need to love your family by caring for their physically and spiritually well-being.
Are you a good father? Are you a godly father? Are you raising your children for good?
Four steps to be a better father
- Pray and seek to fulfill the first command of God.
- Pray that God teaches you to be a good father. It is never too late to start.
- Take responsibility to fulfill your role of father.
- Help younger fathers to know what it means to be honorable, to be responsible, to be accountable, and to stand fast in the faith, act like men, and be strong.
