What is a Father's Responsibility?

Introduction: Fathers aren't you thankful for the manual that was attached to your child when they were born? You look puzzled! Didn't you get your manual? Are there any fathers here that got a manual with the birth of their children?

Question: Is there a manual for rearing children? I would say, YES! The manual for child rearing is the Bible. I believe that the Bible provides us with every step we need to take as fathers. I believe that it clearly teaches us our responsibility.

In the Old Testament, we see that King David taught his son, Solomon. We read in Proverbs 4:3-5,

3 When I was my father's son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.

Throughout the Bible, we are reminded that fathers need to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. Your children need you to provide godly input into their lives.

Listen to the words of Joshua. He states in Joshua 24:15,

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

So, what is a father to do? I'm glad that you ask.

I. A Father is to be a Spiritual Leader for his children.

Every father has a spiritual responsibility to guide their children. Life is a journey and there is a destination (contrary to the opinion of Arnold Schwarzenegger-who is not a theologian).

What do our children need from a Spiritual Leader?

1. Teaching and modeling faith and values.

• Fathers TEACH

Fathers, you cannot teach what you have not experienced. Be teachable, so that you can teach. Grow Up so that you can help your children Grow Up.

• Fathers MODEL

What does it mean to model? It means to live it out in front of your children. You as a father are to be a role model for your children. The Apostle Paul said,

• 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Fathers your children need to see you walking with Jesus, seeking to become more and more like Him. They need to see spirituality incarnate (spirituality in the flesh).

• Fathers IMPART values.

What are some spiritual values you can model before your children?

• Honesty

• Integrity

• Uprightness

• Truthfulness

• Kindness

• Faithfulness

• Compassion

• Gentleness

I would suggest the Fruit of the Spirit that is found in Galatians 5:22-23. Can't go wrong when you pass along the Fruit of the Spirit!

2. Praying for and with their children.

Fathers, PRAY with your children. From the moment they are born, to the day they leave your home. Pray at their birth, pray as they develop, pray as they eat and sleep, pray as they make their first sounds, pray as they take their first step, pray as they use their first words, pray as they get into everything, pray as you place them in bed at night. Repeat the process of praying for your children every single day.

• Fathers PRAY for your children.

I find it interesting that in the book of Job, we have recorded for us a prayer that Job would pray on behalf of his children. Here is what Job prayed,

Job 1:4-5 - 4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and 3sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed 4 God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.1

Fathers are you praying regularly for your children?

• Fathers PRAY with your children.

What is prayer? It is talking with God. But prayer is also teaching our children that we too have a heavenly Father that we depend on (Matthew 7:9-11). This is an important truth for us fathers to grasp. Your children will see if you have a dependence upon your heavenly Father.

Start praying with your children when they are very young, and they will grow up expecting their father to pray with them. And it won't be weird or something strange.

3. Discipline with love and wisdom.

The word "disciple" means correction (Hebrews 12:17). Fathers, we must always correct (discipline) our children in love. Now, I know we will make mistakes, but Spiritual Fathers acknowledge their failures, and they ask for forgiveness from their children.

James tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5).

If you need help as a father, ASK God for that help!

There may be many times that you will call out to God for wisdom while you have the responsibility to raise your children.

Here are some additional ways to gain wisdom:

• Read the Bible.

Since we didn't receive product manuals with each child, and because the Bible is the guidebook for rearing children, I would suggest that you READ it (that's a novel idea}. Study all the fathers in the Bible (The word "Father'' is used 1,672 times in the NKJV). Study the good, the bad, and the ugly fathers. Learn from their success and their failures.

• Read other books (Focus on the Family, Moody Press, Family Life).

• Listen to sermons on parenting.

• Podcasts on Parenting.

• Ask for help from other fathers.

One guy wrote, "It is possible to be a biological father but not a Spiritual Father - we should desire both.

II. A Father is to provide Emotional Support for his children.

What is the most important factor for emotionally healthy children? Parents that engage with their children.

Scripture says,

And fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4).

How does a father provide emotional support for their children?

1. Building strong relationships with your children.

Every father should desire to BUILD a strong relationship with their children (Read Proverbs 1-8 and see how Solomon sought to build a relationship with his son). Fathers, I would encourage you to date your kids. You'll want to spend both quality and quantity time with your children. Therefore,

• Go on trips.

• Go to lunch with your children.

• Go to a playground with your children.

• Go for a hike.

• Go shopping at their favorite store.

• Go for ice cream.

• Go sit and talk.

• Go for a bike ride.

Do whatever it takes to BUILD a relationship. You want your children to be able to come to you and talk to you about anything!

2. Providing a safe and loving environment.

Fathers, your home ought to be a safe place. There should not be a safer place. Every child should know that their home is a safe and loving environment. Loving environment BUILD healthy children. Therefore,

• Stop FIGHTING in front of your children.

• Stop the Hypocrisy- not acting like a Christian.

• Stop the profanity and name-calling.

Children should love to be home. They should never think about running away from home. They should have nothing to run away from. As a father, you have a responsibility to keep the home a safe environment. Children thrive in healthy homes.

My Unsafe Home

As a kid, I didn't have a safe and loving environment to grow up in. As a result, my older brother and I did run away from home. That decision didn't make things better. As I look back on my childhood days, I regret a lot of my poor decisions. Children should never even have to contemplate making decisions like that.

When I was a young father, I sought my best to make sure that my children knew beyond any doubt that I loved them. I kissed my children every day, and I still kiss them when I see them. And now, I am seeking to repeat my actions with my grandchildren. Children need emotional support from fathers and grandfathers!

3. Being present and actively involved in your children's lives.

Make sure that your children have your ATTENTION. There is a lie that we have all heard, "Children are to be seen and not heard." No, children need the presence of their fathers. They need to know that they have all of you when you are home.

Are you aware that 85 percent of youth in prison have an absent father; fatherless children are more likely to offend and go to jail as adults.

Therefore,

• Build forts.

• Read books.

• Laugh and tells jokes (Dad jokes).

Dad Jokes

Father: Don't you think our son gets all his brains from me?

Mother: Probably, I still have all mine.

Q: Who was the straightest man in the Bible? A: Joseph, Pharaoh made a ruler out of him.

Scripture tells us that "laughter is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22).

Other things to do with your children...

• Wrestle.

• Paint nails and toenails with daughters.

• Get down on the floor and play with your kids.

If you are too busy to play with your children, YOU ARE TOO BUSY!

Facts about Fathers

Are you aware that more than a quarter of the 121 million men in the United States are biological fathers of at least one child under the age of 18. Four out of five fathers of minor children live with at least some of those children (79.8%). Almost three­ quarters (72.6%) live with all of their minor children.

Additionally, there are 1.8 million men who are "solo" fathers to a minor child who live with that child and are not living with a spouse or partner.

Less than 6.0% (about 2 million) of all fathers of minor children are "solo" dads but 20.2% (about 7 million) are "absent" dads of all of their minor children.

Don't be an absent father.

III. A Father needs to Provide and Protect his children.

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 5:8,

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he had denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Yes, fathers need to provide for and protect their families.

1. Providing for the physical needs of his family.

I mentioned in a sermon not long ago that children should not have to worry about a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, or food in their stomachs. No, this is the responsibility of their father.

Fathers are to be hard workers and to make sure that their family is being cared for. This doesn't mean that you must provide your children with all the things this world pushes our way. To do so just might teach the wrong values anyway.

Don't BUY everything for your children (and don't allow grandparents to do it either). Teach your children the value of money. Let them earn and buy things for themselves. Also, teach the value of waiting!

Provide what is required always!

2. Ensuring a secure and stable home.

I am speaking to Christian men today. Followers of Jesus Christ know what it means to be SPIRITUAL. You understand that children must feel secure. This is essential for proper emotional development. Children that are not secure act out. They need to be assured of their father's love.

Fathers, is your home a stable place? Or are their fights and wars going on in front of the children? This ought not to be so. Children need stability. Fighting between Mom and Dad leads to anything but stability.

3. Protecting his children from harm and danger.

Fathers are willing to pay the ultimate price to protect their children from harm and danger. Some of you would die for your children if someone sought to do their harm, and yet many of you are very slow to protect your children from the harm and danger within your home (Computer use, cell phone activity, interactive gameplay). You are so busy that you don't always have an eye on your children. All it takes is a moment of neglect for a lifetime of tragedy.

Fathers, do you keep an eye on your children? Can your wife trust you with the kids? Does she know that you will WATCH them carefully?

Young Girl Falls Through Fence

I want you to watch this video so that you can see just how fast something can go wrong while watching children. (Show Video Clip). Praise God that that little girl wasn't killed. Can you see how fast something can go wrong while watching children?

A Child-Safe Home

Is your home child safe? Do you put knives and tools out of reach of children? What about plastic bags or strings? What about heavy boxes or ladders? Fathers, you have a responsibility to keep your home SAFE! If you ERROR, ERROR on being protective!

Aware Of Worldly Danger

There are also dangers in the world. Don't forget to make sure your children are aware of the world and the devil. They are two very real enemies. Warn your children of both. STRANGER DANGER!

• A child is abducted when a stranger stops and offers them candy.

• A child is abducted when a driver stops and tells them that their mom and dad want them to come home right away.

When out in the public always KEEP an EYE on your children. The world is a dangerous place. Fathers, you are called to PROTECT your children from all danger.

Conclusion: What is a Father’s Responsibility?

I. A Father is to be a Spiritual Leader for his children.

1. Teaching and modeling faith and values.

2. Praying for and with your children.

3. Discipline with love and wisdom.

II. A Father is to provide Emotional Support for his children.

1. Building a strong relationship with your children.

2. Providing a safe and loving environment.

3. Being present and actively involved in your children's lives.

Ill. A Father needs to Provide and Protect his children.

1. Providing for the physical needs of your family.

2. Ensuring a secure and stable home.

3. Protecting his children from harm and danger.

Now, go and be the Spiritual Father God designed you to be.