Jump Starts # 627

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Sunday is Father’s Day—the day we celebrate and honor our dads. The role of dads is vital to the success of the home. Dads bring things to the home that moms don’t. Dads can be tough and they can also be tender. Dads come in all sizes. Some are big and some are small. Some are loud and others just don’t say a whole lot. Some like to hunt and fish. Other dads like to spend a Saturday afternoon leaning over the side of a car and tinkering with the engine. Some dads are great at the business of being a dad. Others need some help. Parenting isn’t easy. It’s also something that a person can’t decide to quit. Once you’re in it, you’re in it for the long haul. There’s no turning back.

The Bible places the emphasis of child raising upon dads. Our passage reminds us of this truth. Dads are to be engaged spiritually with their children. It’s hard to bring one up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord when a person is clueless to what that is. Our children see and learn before we ever teach them. Dads must be what they are teaching their children. I have seen worship services where dad and son are both helping out. That’s neat. This Sunday, two of my sons, and myself will be preaching—each in different places. That’s very neat in my book.

Our verse reminds us that there are negative things that dads can do (provoke to anger) and there are positive things they can do (bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord). Dads must be thinking about that. Us dads can sometimes cheat our families because we are too busy with work or too engaged with a game on TV. We must be mindful of that.

Here is my short list of what dads ought to remind their children:

1. Life isn’t always fair and you do not always get your way (especially if you are a boy and you have a sister).

2. Sometimes those that you love die. This includes pets and grandparents.

3. Hard work is hard, but when it’s done, it sure makes a person feel good. There’s nothing like a clean room, a mowed yard, a car washed, or a term paper completed. Hard work is good for a person.

4. Not everything you do comes with a paycheck. The servant serves because that’s the right thing to do. No one pays mom to wash clothes, cook meals or drive you about. Dad doesn’t get paid to cut the yard. You will do things without receiving anything for it. Jesus did that all the time.

5. Books are your friend. Books (and this includes electronic forms) are the keys to learning, growth and understanding. Be a lifelong reader. It’ll make you a better person. Expand your list of what you read.

6. Jesus is your friend. He wants you to do well. He wants you to follow Him. You’ll need Jesus all of your life. Get to know Him. Come to love Him.

7. Make good friends. Friends are like bridges. They’ll take you places. They will introduce you to new things. Good friends will help you. Bad friends will hurt you.

8. Listen to your parents. They have more invested in you than anyone else and they want to see you do well.

9. Christians are the greatest people on the face of the earth. They are not perfect but they follow the One who is. They try—first to be righteous and then to be servants. Surround yourself with Christians. They will remind you of where you need to be and they will be there if you fall. You need Christians in your life.

Well, that’s my list. Do you have a list? Write it out and share it with your family. Thanks dads for all that you are doing, you are making a difference.

Roger