THE CALL TO FATHERHOOD

Genesis 18:18-19

It is not easy being a father. One father, speaking from his own experience, noted that children go through four fascinating stages. First, they call you DaDa. Then, they call you Daddy. As they mature they call you Dad. Finally, they call you collect.

Today, as we honor all our fathers in the church, we would like to convey to them our love, and at the same time impressed to each of them that the role of a Christian father is more important in today's world than ever before. I believe it is a role that needs to be defined once again especially because of the unique challenges that it is facing in this generation.

Of course, many of us are aware that one of the greatest problems in America today is the absentee father. David Blankenhorn of the Institute for American Values writes:

"A generation ago, an American child could reasonably expect to grow up with his or her father. Today, an American child can reasonably expect not to….

"This astonishing fact is reflected in many statistics, but here are the two most important: Tonight, about 40 percent of American children will go to sleep in homes in which their fathers do not live. Before they reach the age of eighteen, more than half…are likely to spend at least a significant portion of their childhoods living apart from their fathers. Never before in this country have so many children been voluntarily abandoned by their fathers. Never before have so many children grown up without knowing what it means to have a father."

So, for all of you fathers who are truly doing your best for your families, I would like to bless you in the Lord. It is my utmost prayer that God’s help and bountiful blessings be upon you today.

Do you know that God would like to really bless you to the extent that your children, even your children’s children can enjoy God’s rich blessings? Well, our chosen text this morning highlights this very special truth. As the Lord was reiterating to Abraham His promise of making him a great and powerful nation, you will also find the Lord explaining to Him the responsibilities he needs to discharge in order for him to receive His blessings. Literally, His blessings are hinge on Abraham’s faithfulness in fulfilling his paternal responsibilities. So, as it is my desire to see God’s blessings upon you, allow me to help you understand some of these truths that God had impressed to Abraham:

I     APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE:

“I have chosen him”

No one becomes a father without God’s appointment. It is God who gives children as a gift to us.

Fathers, the Bible say it clearly, God gives children to us not as a burden or penalty, He gives them as a favor. But with every privilege, there is a responsibility. We will never enjoy our children, if we fail to fulfill our divinely appointed responsibilities towards them.

Children, I know your fathers are not perfect. They are humans. But, you have to remember that they are given to you by God as your dads. The Bible is explicit with regards to your responsibilities towards them.

When you recognize that they are chosen by God for you, obedience and honor for them is equal to offering them to God himself. With this, God’s bestows His blessings.

II    ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRIORITY:

“so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just”

There are a lot of necessities in life that fathers provide their children with, but what should be given the highest priority? The text is clear – SPIRITUAL DIRECTION.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of children today who do not have any direction in life. Many of them can even be considered grown ups, and yet they do not know what they want to do in life. Worse, many of them are spiritually lost heeding towards eternal destruction. Looking at the passage, God is saying that Abraham will direct his children towards what is right and just. Meaning, he will raise children who will have the spiritual capabilities to discern what is right and pleasing in the sight of the Lord.

Fathers, have you been effectively directing your children? Here are some practical ways to do it:

• You have to be present:

If dad spends little or no time with his children, he will not be able to provide any direction. Notice this passage in Deuteronomy how God wants us to instruct our children. Doing this would really require a lot of your time.

• You have to start early:

Another familiar passage is Proverbs 22: 6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” This verse simply reminds us that the earlier we start teaching them about God and His path, the better it is. Practically speaking, the younger they are, the fewer distractions there are.

• You need to be a model:

In our main text, Abraham needs to direct his children after him in keeping the way of the Lord. Literally, the passage suggests that Abraham must model before his children the way of the Lord.

Fathers, our children will never be more than who we are spiritually. We can never expect them to love the Lord with all their hearts, if we are not showing what it means. They will never understand the value of going to church, if we are not leading the way to church. You have to be a leader; you have to be a model.

Walk a little slower, Daddy, said a little child so small.
I'm following in your footsteps and I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they are hard to see;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy, for you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up, you're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Daddy, for I must follow you.

• You need to give them right standard:

The role of Abraham also include helping his children discern what is right from what is wrong. Unfortunately, too many fathers have confusing standards, which lead children no where. God has helped us in this area by giving us the Bible as the basis of our morality. God has never change, and His standard will never change. We need to build into our children God’s standard.

III   ACHIEVE THE PROSPERITY:

“so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

Abraham was called to be a channel of blessings first to his own children, then to the whole world. Here is the statement of God’s promise to Abraham:

You see, fathers are supposed to be a blessing to their children. Do you see yourself as a blessing to your children? If not, I hope you will heed what God wants you to do from our text. God honored Abraham because of his faith and faithfulness. If we are not faithful fathers, we will never discover the greater blessings that God desires for us to have. Achieve God’s prosperity through the fulfillment of your calling as a father.