FATHERS . . .

Unfortunately, many people focus on unimportant things. They never speak to their kids about life and death issues, and spiritual things.

When was the last time you spoke to your kids about spiritual issues ?

It is also unfortunate that many families use the dinner table as a “dumping ground” for all the complaints they couldn’t get off their chest earlier in the day. Many times if you listen to the conversations going on at tables around you in a restaurant you will find that the majority of them are negative.

When was the last time you spoke about the blessings of the Lord at the dinner table ?

Sometimes fathers lament that they didn’t have good examples for what a good father ought to be. Wives should pay special attention to this, because they can remind their husbands or sons to follow Scriptural principles. Most importantly, that they need to learn from Jesus (whether they had a good father or not) how to teach. Learning from the best Father in the universe will save all involved from many heartaches down the road.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

When judging our child-rearing, we must look to God as our standard, because what the world says is right, many times is in opposition of what God says is right. His standards are always true and righteous !

The world sets standards in many different ways. Take for example the following story about a rabbi who visited a young man’s house one day. The man invited the rabbi out to his barn to observe his shooting skills. The young man showed the rabbi numerous bulls eyes in which it appeared he had shot an arrow into the very center. The rabbi was amazed, “How did you learn to shoot so well?, he exclaimed. The young man grinned and replied, “It’s easy, anyone can do it ! First – shoot the arrows onto plain white paper, and then paint the circles around the arrow….”

As you can see, what appears to be “hitting the mark” isn’t always so. So how can you know that you are doing a good job at being a father, or in other words “hitting the mark” ?

Well, each person has to come before God and check themselves by His standards, but following you will find some solid Biblical principles that will surely help you along the way !

1. MAKE YOUR TIME COUNT WITH YOUR CHILDREN.
*TEACH THEM !
Most parents have a limited time with their children today. God didn’t ordain your wife – the school – or the church – to do all the teaching ! He left a great deal of it up to you.

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 6:7

2. TEACH THEM BY EXAMPLE. (YOU WILL WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT !)
For example, when you teach your children a principle to live by, be sure that you are heeding that same principle as well !

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them to thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Deut. 4:9

**IF you want your kids to be complainers that can’t come up with solutions but spend most of their time complaining, then let them see only that part of you. If you always come home complaining – that is teaching them to do the same thing. ***IF YOU ARE A COMPLAINER… would you like to know why ? Chances are, your father always was, too. Don’t keep passing this sin down to all generations. Stop it now !

3. TEACH BY SITUATIONS. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON WAY THAT JESUS TAUGHT.
A. By experiences.

And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. Matt. 14:22

B. By personal involvement. (i.e. the loaves and the fishes)

And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. Matt. 14:19

4. TEACH THEM BY LEADING THEM IN THE RIGHT WAYS.
Jesus placed before the disciples a correct view of the highest priorities. Make sure your kids understand what is really important. Always put the emphasis and priority on spiritual things. (After all, those are the only things that will last forever !)

And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:19

5. TEACH THEM BY YOUR AUTHORITY.
You have the right to demand certain things of your children.
A. You have authority in the home. But – don’t misuse it !
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:4

Don’t deal with children at a time of anger, when you want to be satisfied rather than teach them something.

B. You have authority over your children that is God-given. (No matter what the government says.) GOD even tells the kids about your authority.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Eph. 6:1