Fathers: What are some important things about their role?
The command to be diligent students of God’s Word applies to fathers as it does to anyone. It is in this first verse of Scripture we’ll note, that we find the most important of all commands for fathers to obey.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
Fathers are to always be growing in their knowledge and application of God’s Word. It is always this that is the top priority of a great man.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
By doing this they’ll be able to provide wise leadership and be a good example to their family and all others.
We all have important responsibilities in life. Whatever those responsibilities may be, they’re all to be carried out under the directives of Scripture.
We don’t have many statements in Scripture that are specifically directed to fathers, but we have plenty that are directed to sons who generally become fathers. So many of those things apply to fathers as they do to sons. Here are some of them.
Proverbs 1:8, 10, 15
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: [Emphasis added]
The general principles here are all ours to use, but the material blessings are not guaranteed to us. Again, material blessings are not guaranteed for godly living in our time. For more information about this, please see my articles where that subject is specifically addressed.
Blessing: Does God promise material blessings for godly living?
Blessings: What are now ours in Christ?
For even more information about this, please see my book about it.
22 Key Promises You Can Count On
The book of Proverbs is filled with practical advice about a lot of things. Gaining wisdom for becoming a godly father is but a small part of it.
Proverbs 2:1-5
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
Even though this is specifically talking about the commandments of the Mosaic Law, a system of law we’re not under today [Romans 6:14-15], there are many commands given to us in the Pauline epistles that relate to us for our practical use. Any that conflict with Paul’s teaching are not directed to us. This is another of many reasons we all need to become familiar with Paul’s teaching. Otherwise, we won’t know what relates to us and what doesn’t.
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
God knows our thoughts. Where there’s an ongoing desire for His wisdom in our decision-making, it will be provided. That is a promise you can count on.
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 3:1-8, 19-22
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
This “length of days, long life and peace” just represents how things tend to go with such people. They are not guaranteed to anyone.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
This that is underlined is an example of something that IS guaranteed. Again, anything that conflicts with the apostle Paul’s teaching is not addressed to us. They are simply things for our learning.
Romans 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 3 verses continued—
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. [Emphasis added]
Always bear in mind that there are always consequences for foolishness. All decisions, both good and bad, create certain outcomes. We need to always be mindful of this.
Galatians 6:7-9
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [Emphasis added]
The writer of Proverbs says a father who rejects God’s instructions is a fool. We have all those instructions today in the sixty-six books of our Bible.
Proverbs 15:5
5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent [having wisdom and acting judiciously—one who is shrewd in practical affairs]. [Emphasis added]
A major part of a father’s responsibility is to discipline his children, causing them to do the right and proper things in life.
Proverbs 13:1 & 24
1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. [Emphasis added]
For additional information about the correct role of fathers, please see my other articles about this—
Fathers: What does the apostle Paul teach us about them?
Fathers: What kind of leadership are they to provide?
A wise son will make his father proud and do everything he can to protect the feelings of his mother.
Proverbs 10:1
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness [a burden] of his mother. [Emphasis added]
Proverbs 19:18
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. [Emphasis added]
I had an aunt and an uncle who almost always yielded to the crying of one of their sons. That son ended up in prison and spent most of the rest of his life there. Such are the consequences of tolerating evil.
Proverbs 23:13-14
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. [Emphasis added]
The book of Proverbs is a book filled with warnings about all kinds of things. A wise father will make a habit of reading and studying his Bible to become the best he can be in all areas of his life.
Conclusion—
Again, please note the other articles on this website concerning the proper role for fathers. Being a wise husband and father far outweighs the value of his other pursuits in life whatever they may be. Therefore, it is imperative that all fathers make themselves serious students of the Bible. Only in that way will they gain the wisdom they need to succeed in this endeavor.
