Fathers Are Vital!

It was the peppery Erma Bombeck who once said of her father, “I never knew what to do with the daddy doll, so I had him say, ‘I’m going off to work now’; and I put him under the bed.” One of the most precious things a father can give his child is a solid work ethic. It is vital that children see their father work hard, honestly, and to take pride in what he does. 

As a child, I remember that when something broke down, my father would get out his toolbox and make the repairs. I was always fascinated by his toolbox and its contents. It seemed my father could fix almost anything with the tools inside. From the very beginning, God has designated husbands/fathers as the leaders of the home (Genesis 3:16). Fathers have a great responsibility in making sure the whole family goes the right direction in the name of the Lord. The Christian father needs to have his spiritual toolbox at the ready to make sure this is the case. Some of the tools that should be in it are: Adjustable wrench – Fathers must be able to adapt to any situation that arises, so that they can continue to lead properly. Carpenter’s pencil – Fathers must be able to draw the boundaries for the family and keep them so that all can clearly see them. Level – Fathers must be fair and keep a level head in all circumstances. Pliers – Fathers must be able to hold everything together even when everybody else may be losing their grip. Hammer – Fathers must be effective in driving home important truths. Utility knife – Fathers must be able to cleanly separate and remove undesirable things and influences, so that they do not harm the family. Screwdriver – Fathers must be willing to keep turning the right direction to help keep the family secure. Tape measure – Fathers must be measuring and monitoring the family’s use of time, resources, and priorities. Duct tape – Fathers must be ready to apply a quick fix to problems so that they don’t get out of hand, holding them in check until a permanent solution is found. Extension cord – Fathers must plug into the proper power source and distribute it to every family member. Fathers are important, and they must use the proper tools and take the time to build and mend the family into a strong structure for the Lord. 

A child learns responsibility and integrity from such a role model. There is nothing sadder than a child whose father is a deadbeat, a bum, or even worse, dishonest. But sometimes dads take this too far. They become consumed with their work, and become unavailable to their children. Studies have shown that it is vital for both sons and daughters to develop this relationship with their father. A boy learns how to be a man from his father. This goes far beyond the realm of learning how to throw curve balls and attach a lure to a line - it has to do with the son’s view of ethics and integrity, and especially the view of his spiritual self. A girl learns about femininity by using her father as a guideline for what is opposite. If her relationship with her father is distant or strained, the studies say, her marital relationship later in life will be impaired and dysfunctional. Not a happy life.

[Psalm 78:1-8] The Bible speaks frequently and eloquently about the need for fathers to pass their Godly life on to their children. “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and wonders that he has done” (v’s 2-4). Someone has observed that in state penitentiaries prisoners frequently request “Happy Mother’s Day” cards. They almost never ask for “Happy Father’s day” cards. I wonder why that would be? Fathers need to pass on their Godly life to their children. Be there!