Lord willing, we will return to our series on “Sound Theology” at a later date. But the recent passing of my father has sent my heart in another direction. Over the next few posts, we will explore the role of fatherhood as presented in Scripture. Some years ago, while studying this subject, I was impacted by how my earthly father had been so influential in my spiritual growth. That inspiration resulted in the composition of a song which I entitled, “Father’s Teach Your Children.”
Ephesians 6:1-4 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 were the specific texts that inspired this song. As I meditated on these passages, I began pondering the profound truth that the relationship between earthly fathers and their children was intended to teach us of the relationship with our heavenly Father. What a tremendous responsibility. Fathers teach these lessons, not only in word, but in deed. My father taught me well. The sermon that resulted from that meditation was entitled, “Lessons from My Heavenly Father that I’ve Learned Through My Earthly Father.” In that sermon I shared but a few of the profound biblical truths that have shaped my life.
I learned to invest time in your children. Children are a heritage from God (Psalm 127:3-5). And raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord does not happen automatically (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4). If you are going to image God before them, they must see you and they must know you.
I learned to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). If you invest your life in this world, everything will perish with you. But if you lay up treasures in heaven, you’ll enjoy an eternal inheritance (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10; Psalm 84:10). My father modeled this by turning down lucrative offers from the world that would surely have detracted from his calling.
I learned that the greatest in the Kingdom is not the most popular, or the most powerful, or the most wealthy. The greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all (Mark 10:42-44). My father was just such a servant. He was a humble man, never too proud to perform menial tasks or serve in the lowliest of ways. He knew how to take up the basin and the towel (John 13:1-20).
I learned to always submit to the authority of Scripture, for God’s Word is forever settled in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). He told me we must never try to force the Scripture to agree with our presuppositions. The Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient for everything we need for life and godliness (2 Tim 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:3). My father never stood so tall in my eyes as when he bowed before the Word of God.
I learned from my father that the most important thing we do as the corporate people of God is to worship (Hebrews 10:25). Yes, our whole life should be one of worship. But when we gather together as God’s people, the eternal breaks in upon the temporal (Hebrews 12). It is a foretaste of our eternal destiny – a destiny in which we will assemble around the throne of God to worship Him forever and ever. Therefore, God’s people should be committed to corporate worship. My father often spoke of his father’s commitment to corporate worship. He told us, “We knew if dad was breathing, we were going to church.” He told us stories of their days on the farm in Stephenville. I saw the old house before it was torn down. A mile of dirt lay between the house and the gravel road. When it rained, they had to leave their car on that gravel road. But that never stopped them from going to church. If the path was merely muddy, they would walk the railroad track to the car. However, there were times when his father had to shuttle the family to the car on a tractor, one person at a time. Most people today are ready to forfeit corporate worship at the first hint of inconvenience. What a contrast. Nonetheless, my father instilled this importance in me, and my children and now, my grandchildren. All of these truths and so many more I have learned through my earthly father, in words, yes, but more profoundly, in the way he lived. He always pointed me to Christ and for that, I am eternally grateful. All children should be so blessed and all fathers would do well to follow that godly example.
Father’s Teach Your Children
As a little boy I would raise my eyes and see him standing there, My rock my strength and safety, no other could compare. And all I ever needed to know I could find in his wise words. Yet, he told me “son, there’s only One, who always must be heard.” As the days past on I would learn from him, the God of glory reigns. He turned my head heavenward, to join in this refrain. He showed me what I saw in him was the image of our Lord, And put my faith in God alone, for He is our reward. I learned at my father’s knee; the Word of God stands true. He taught me to be a servant, this is what He’s called us to. I learned from him what matters most is to worship God alone. And spend my life investing, in a heavenly home. Fathers teach your children of the One who reigns on high. Fathers teach your children; they should see Him in your eyes. He’s given you a privilege to image Him this way, So fathers teach your children, to love Him all their days.
In our next post, we will begin considering how Scripture presents earthly fatherhood as a paradigm for our relationship with our heavenly father.
