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Fatherly Advice (1)
Fatherly Advice (1)
There is some “hard-earned” advice all fathers should consider in their pursuit of being a man of God…
1. Never neglect your wife. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wife, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it”. Your wife needs what we all need: understanding, affection, gratitude, support, and appreciation. This is something she does not receive often from your children, especially when they are small. If she does not receive this from her husband either, she will turn to someone or something else to receive what she needs. Wake up. Pay attention. Listen to her feelings. Help her out. Tell you love her often. Hug and kiss her daily. Let her know you think of her often throughout the day. This goes a long way in your marriage…
2. Children cannot be underestimated. Would the prodigal son’s father ever think he would come back home? What did Timothy’s parents say when he wanted to preach the gospel? Would Ruth’s parents ever think she would stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and not go back home? Do you have high ambitions for your “fast growing” children as they trod through life? Your child can take every step with intention. You can help them grow and mature into an excellent man and woman. Your pleasure with their accomplishments needs to be announced, not to the world, but to them. Be confident in what God can do in them - always…
3. Do not treat your teenage children like adults. Proverbs 4:1-9 is one of the most sublime passages for fathers to understand. Give them wisdom as teenagers to be able to make good decisions when they are adults. You may think and say, “He’s big enough to do that.” “She is old enough to do that.” The reality is they need you to pull them up, fine-tune their consciences, and welcome them to adult reality. Show them how to balance a checkbook, pursue a job, work professionally, serve their bosses, and deal respectfully with the opposite sex. Show them how to buy good clothes and dress well. At 14, when they complain, "Why don't you trust me?" teach them there is a difference between character and judgment. Their character of honesty and good intentions are sometimes inexperienced at the judgments that have to be made about the opposite sex, cars, friends, and other “forks in the road”…
More “Fatherly Advice” next week…
