Classic Christianity – Fathers Day Part 3 (06-21-19)
Bob George teaches a Father’s day message. From the spelling of “Father”, Bob shares characteristics of a father. These characteristics in a father have great impact on our children. Those same things also apply to mothers.
F – Faithfulness
A – Attentiveness
T – Truthfulness and Thankfulness
H – Helpful
E – Encouraging
R – Respectful
Let us take a closer look at encouraging.
As parents, we should be encouraging our children. We live in such a competitive age, that even young children are being recruited for the big leagues. What does the child need? Criticism? No, encouragement. What ever happened to children just going out to play and have fun? When is it okay to tell Johnny it is okay to not be as good as the other child?
1 Timothy 6:9-12
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Have you ever seen a hearse on the back of a u-haul? You cannot take stuff with you when you die. The love of money is the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong with money. The problem is when you love money. Sometimes we are neglecting our children because of money, just because we are wanting something.
If we have food and clothing, then we should be content with that. This scripture is either true or it isn’t.
Whoever wants to get rich will fall into temptation. Bob George, before being saved, shared that he wanted to be a millionaire before the age of 40. He said that he wanted to get rich and that he fell into temptation as a result. Do we teach our children to go out and get rich? No, for if you do then you will lead your children into temptation.
You do not have your goal to get rich. You have as your goal to work heartily unto the Lord and leave the results to God.
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Let God give the reward. If you happen to get rich, then give thanks to God for that. Bob knew a man who was rich and whose goal was not to get rich. His goal has been to give to the work of the Lord. If I have to strive to get something, then once I have got it, I have to strive to keep it.
So it says be content. People fall into temptation and a trap, into eventual ruin and destruction, for the love of money, and have pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Is that a good thing to teach your children? Is it, first of all, something you teach yourself? Then teach your children.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Teach children to seek first God and His righteousness and then He will add to you. Let God add. How much is He going to add to you? That is God’s business.
Let us look more closely at helpfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
God does not want us to be idle. We should be helpful with people, and that includes our children. Encourage them. Those who are timid, encourage them. Those who are lazy, tell them to get up and get to work. Those who are weak, encourage and help them. Be patient with everyone. Children and grandchildren are all different. You treat them differently but treat them fairly. They all have different needs.
Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Instead of telling someone, show them. Let me show you a better way, and that is love. That is the same thing when dealing with children. Let us treat our children in the attitude of restoration and not criticism or condemnation.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
I want to restore and to build. I can restore and build or punish and tear down. Is Jesus punishing you and me for our sins today? Absolutely not! What is He doing? Restoring us. He says to us, “Get up and sin no more.” like Jesus spoke with the woman who was caught in adultery. “Where are your accusers? Neither do I accuse you.” That should be our attitude. It is not just telling what not to do but what to do. If you tell them to not have a bad attitude then you have not done him any good. He needs to know what a good attitude is. This is how God would have you think? Use an illustration or a story to explain these things.
Let us look more closely at respectful.
1 Timothy 5:1-2
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
If I do not have respect for the law, then how am I going to teach my children to respect the law? Is the law important to keep people from annihilating themselves? What kind of society would we have if we did not have laws? What kind of driving would we have without laws? It is bad enough with laws. How bad do you think driving would be without laws? If I do not have any respect at all for the law, and I am a father, how am I going to teach my child to have any respect for the law? If my child gains disrespect for the law, then what do I have? A lawless child. You watch a show on cops and robbers, and you find yourself cheering the robber. What are you teaching your child? We must learn that it is imperative to teach children respect. You need to have respect for the law, for leaders, those employed by, and if you are an employer, then respect for your employees. Respect is lost in this generation. We need to regain that, not to change the world and this city. This is for you and me and our families. Respect God, the bible and one another since we are human for whom Christ died.
