THE SINS OF THE FATHERS

The Word of God has a lot of instruction to fathers. We’re told in Numbers 14:18: “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. What this means is that when you have a decline in parental leadership, where fathers are selfish and not having a positive impact on their children, it usually takes three or four generations to wipe out all the wrong and worldliness that was produced in the children.

Being a father carries with it enormous responsibilities. It requires a lot of prayer, patience, and admitting fault. There are terrific times, and there are times of discouragement. But God is faithful, and He gives us a precious promise in Proverbs 22:6. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

G. Campbell Morgan, the famous preacher of the past, once said: “What I want my children to be, that I am!” As fathers go, so go the churches, and nation, and future generations. The highest duty of a father is not fixing everything that is broken around the house, or handling the finances, or putting bread on the table. The main duty of a father is to teach his children about the character and wisdom of God. Parental effectiveness comes when our children know their God intimately which produces godly living. The book of Proverbs is a superb resource in training our children for God. The following points are eight responsibilities for all fathers:

1. Teach them to fear God- 1:7
2. Teach them how to work- 6:6-11
3. Teach them to think properly- 3:3,23
4. Teach them to choose the right friends- 1:10-15
5. Teach them how to be pure- 2:16-18
6. Teach them to have a disciplined life- 3:11-12
7. Teach them to protect their words- 4:24
8. Teach them to love others- 3:27-29