The Instructions of a Father

Text

Proverbs 4:1, 2, 13 – “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. (2)For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. (13) Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

Introduction

Today is Father’s Day. A day set aside to encourage and honor fathers for the role they play within the family unit. Given the state of the family in American culture today, Father’s Day, is often difficult for many to truly celebrate. Fathers are expected to be provider for and protector of their families. Moreover, although things have drastically changed, fathers were expected to give sage advice on navigating the dangerous and sometimes confusing sea of life. It used to be, “Father Knows Best,” but now it’s “Father Knows Nothing,” or “Father’s a Fool,” or “Father Doesn’t Matter.”

After all, there are so many absentee fathers, some within the home and most outside it. In fact, many children do not even know their fathers. On the other hand, there are so many abusive fathers (to children and mothers), that the very thought of father is repulsive. To the absentee and abusive fathers, I implore you to repent and strive to become the kind of father that God’s Word calls you to be.

Then there are fathers who do their best to provide, protect, and counsel their families. However, in far too many cases, these otherwise wonderful dads, neglect to impart godly wisdom to their children. The instructions tend to focus on how to make a living, but not how to live in a manner pleasing to God. We want our children to do what we say, but not what they may see us do. And what we do, always carries more weight than what we say. For instance, a father may tell his children to go to church, but they often do not accompany them to church and stay with them for the entire service. Far too often, this responsibility diverts to the mother or grandparents. There is an old axiom that says, “You can’t lead where you won’t go, and you can’t teach what you don’t know.” And every Sunday for the past several decades to today, this sad truth of missing fathers has been playing out in churches across this nation. And, sadly, there is little to no evidence of any improvement.

Nevertheless, to the father’s that are trying to raise theirs and/or other’s children in a biblical way, I want to cheer you on, and come alongside you to support your efforts. I know it is not easy and it can become discouraging, but stay the course, continue to stand fast in love and in the truth, and embrace the responsibility, knowing that God who is faithful will not put more burden upon you than you are able to bear. Although you may not see the fruit of your labor on this side of the grave; nevertheless, I am persuaded that He who sits high, but looks low, will not forget your labor of love. For as the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Amen somebody.

Our text today comes from the Book of Proverbs; whose author is none other than King Solomon. A proverb is a pithy sentence, concisely expressing some well-established truth. We know that Solomon lived five hundred years before the “seven wise men”of Greece, and seven hundred years before the age of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Thus, it is evident that he did not draw upon any heathen sources. Scripture informs us that it was God who gave Solomon the gift of wisdom. Therefore, we should take heed to the instructions given herein.

V.1– “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”

First things first. The first instruction of this father to his children is to “Hear” or listen or pay attention or make an earnest effort to listen with the intent to understand and obey. This was the problem from the Beginning with our fore parents Adam and Eve. God gave them one prohibitive instruction and the reason behind it: “thou shall not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that ye eat thereof, thou shalt surely die.” And what happened? They failed to keep His instruction and as a result they died, and man continues to die. The failure to listen is embedded in the human spirit and continues to be our problem today. Sometime, the father is not giving godly instructions, whereas other times he is giving it, but the children ignore it.

The children of Israel were constantly admonished to listen or take heed to the Word of the Lord. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, known as the Shema (Hebrew for “hear”), which is recited twice a day by the devout Jews, says:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (6)And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7)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. (8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (9)And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” See also, Deuteronomy 4:9, 23; 11:16; 12:13, 19, 30; 27:9)

Side Note: I am convinced that one of the most difficult challenges we face is getting our children to listen to godly instructions. I cannot count the number of times that I wish I had listened to godly instruction. Many times, I have disobeyed godly instruction and lived to regret it. However, on the contrary, there has never been a time when I obeyed godly instruction only to regretted it later. You can never go wrong obeying godly instruction. Amen somebody. Now, I don’t have time to call the roll, but I know I have some witnesses out there that could testify to this truth.

There is no greater instruction a father can give a child than to let them know that they did not make themselves nor cause themselves to be here on planet earth. But rather, that God is their Maker and to Him they owe their existence. And because God is their Maker, He has absolute authority over their lives. Moreover, that God has left them instructions which are found in the Holy Bible—the Word of God, for them to obey. No one is exempt; no one will escape; and no one will have a legitimate excuse. Amen somebody.

Why listen? Why pay attention? Why make the effort? These are very good questions. V.2 has the answer.

V.2 – “For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.”

For or because, I give you good doctrine. There is no wisdom outside of good doctrine. Solomon said that the doctrine he was imparting to his son which he received from his father King David was good or profitable, or beneficial. In other words, this will help and sustain you. Doctrine simply means teaching or instruction. In I Timothy 4:16, Paul wrote to Timothy and instructed him with these words, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

V.13 – “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

To “take fast hold,” is to cling to wisdom as you cling to life itself. “...for she is thy life.”

In the NT, Christ is the wisdom of God. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, there are many things that people try and cling to because of the value that they place in the object:

Money

Land

Jewelry

Clothes

Cars

Reputations

Youth

Affiliations

Family ties and friendships

But the Bible says that all these things in the end will perish. In fact, our time here on earth will also come to an end. I heard Paul say in 1 Timothy 6:7 – “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” In other words, either you are going to leave these things, or these things will leave you. Or people will leave you or you will leave them. Amen somebody.

The only thing that will endure throughout eternity is God’s Word. In I Peter 1:24-25, I heard Peter say, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” In John 10:27-30, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (30)I and my Father are one.”

A lot of people want to go to heaven, but too many are trying to get there their way. Many people have been deceived into thinking that somehow God will accept them based upon their self-conceived criteria or through some other name. But Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto to the Father, but by me.” Jesus spoke in – “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, died on Calvary’s cross one Friday, was buried and stayed in the tomb three days and three nights. But three days later, early Sunday morning, while the dew was still on the rose, Jesus rose from the dead with all power in heaven and earth given unto Him. He ascended to the Right Hand of His Father and is making intercession for the saints. The same Jesus is coming back again to receive those who have placed their trust in Him and ever shall we be with the Lord. All cares are passed, we will be home at last, ever to rejoice. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear “The Instructions of a Father.” Happy Father’s Day to all fathers. May the Lord bless and keep you is my earnest prayer. AMEN.