As a child, my father and I would walk to the country store near our home for ice cream after dinner at night. This was a treat — except I knew that before reaching the store, we had to pass a neighbor’s large, black dog that ran out and nipped at my ankles. My father would walk on the road next to the cars that whizzed by, but when we reached the dogs, he sensed my fear as I gripped his hand. Without saying a word, he exchanged hands and placed himself between the dogs and me. I was safe. No harm could come to me with my father protecting me.
By learning to trust my earthly father, I found faith in my heavenly Father. For many children, their relationships with their earthly fathers are the beginning of a greater trust and faith in God.
Learning from the Bible
Recent data shows that 80% of single-parent families are headed by single mothers, and nearly a third live in poverty. It takes two parents to raise a child — a mother and a father. Both have roles that are essential in helping a child develop cognitively, spiritually and emotionally. Fathers are not “secondary” parents. Their presence in a youngster’s life is equally as important as the mother.
The Church can equip fathers and guide them in teaching children about people in the Bible and how to learn from these individuals.
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- Having faith. Matthew tells us of the faith of Joseph who was engaged to be married to Mary, the mother of Jesus. When she was with child, he didn’t want to embarrass her and planned to divorce her quietly. But God had other plans. “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (1:20). Joseph was a man of faith.
- Making good decisions. God provided everything Adam and Eve — the first man and woman — needed in the Garden of Eden, yet they were tempted to want more, especially to take from the tree of life, which was forbidden. “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken” (Gen. 3:23). Adam and Eve did not make a good decision.
- Obeying God. In the days of Noah, God saw that people of the earth had become evil and He was very disappointed. The earth would be destroyed by a flood. But Noah was a righteous man and he walked with God. God told Noah to build an ark, giving him the exact size and instructions. “You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female” (Gen. 6:19). Noah brought enough food for all the family and animals to last until the water receded — just as the Lord commanded. Noah was obedient to God.
- Caring for others. Moses was considered a father to the Israelites. This leader brought them out of slavery in the land of Egypt and provided for their needs during their exodus. He cared greatly for his people — the people of his birth. When Pharaoh’s army was pursuing the Israelites, God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the water, and the Egyptian army was consumed. Then the Israelites walked through on dry ground. “The people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses his servant” (Ex. 14:31). Moses truly cared for his people.
- Loving humanity. God the Father, who loved humanity so much that He sent His Son to die for us, is the greatest example of love. If there could be only one verse in the Bible, John 3:16 would be the greatest: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God the Father is the guide for creating the kind of dads needed for children today.
Recognize and encourage
Perhaps the local church can do more to recognize fathers and to encourage them to become more involved in their children’s lives by providing:
- Retreats for dads.
- Special recognition Sundays.
- Conferences for men.
- Speakers who address issues and concerns that men have requested.
- Library books and literature on becoming the dad your child needs.
- Bible study groups for men.
- Christian films that focus on the father’s role in the home.
- Fun activities for fathers such as fishing trips or taking the church bus to a major ball game in a nearby city.
- A questionnaire of activities that would be of interest to men of your church.
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