November 18: Being a Godly Father

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7

A Godly Father

It is not enough to be a good father. God requires us to be Godly fathers.

Elder Edgar Bennett
Savannah SDA Church

A Godly father is a man who is faithful to God, consistently guides his children according to biblical principles and commands the respect of his family, church and community. He is a loving husband, a gospel worker and a law-abiding citizen. He provides, protects and petitions the throne of God on behalf of his family.

As fathers our responsibility goes beyond providing instruction and being a good example. God expects us to apply restraint both as fathers and priests to prevent our children from being wayward. Similarly, our duty does not end when our children become adults. Prayer alone, however fervent, is not sufficient to deter them from a perverse course. Providing mild admonitions or remaining silent when we have knowledge of their persistent wrongdoing is synonymous with negligence.

Many fathers may not excuse the sins of their children. However, they may not cultivate that firmness of character to reprove their sins and point them to our sin-pardoning, loving Saviour.

The sacred scriptures remind us of a good man who was not a Godly father. We can learn several lessons and unlearn many more lessons from this example of negligence. This father was Eli. He was not just a priest and judge in Israel; he was a prayer warrior.

The Example of Eli

Eli was a good man and was pure in morals. He was gentle, loving, and kind, and had a true interest in the service of God and the prosperity of His cause. However, he has too indulgent. He incurred the displeasure of God because he did not strengthen the weak points in his character. He did not want to hurt the feelings of anyone and did not possess the moral courage to rebuke and reprove sin. He did not add to his faith the courage and power to say No at the right time and in the right place. 

Eli did not exercise his authority to correct the evil habits and passions of his children but loved peace, ease and harmony. Subsequently, he became more insensible to their impurity and crime. He would submit to their will and give them their own way rather than contend with them or punish them. He treated the matter as little consequence, instead of regarding the education of his sons as one of the most important of his responsibilities. 

Eli was acquainted with the divine will. He knew what characters God could accept, and what He would condemn. Yet he suffered his children to grow up with unbridled passions, perverted appetites, and corrupt morals. Eli had instructed his children in the law of God and had given them a good example in his own life; but this was not his whole duty. God required him, both as a father and as a priest, to restrain them from following their own perverse will. This he had failed to do. 

Lessons from the negligence of Eli

Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had been our own. 

There is no greater curse upon households than to allow the youth to have their own way. When parents regard every wish of their children and indulge them in what they know is not for their good, the children soon lose all respect for their parents, all regard for the authority of God or man, and are led captive at the will of Satan.

In the quote below the term “music” can easily be interchanged for dress, diet, recreation and any other Christian behaviour:

 Christian parents and church leaders do young people a gross disservice when they blur the distinction between acceptable and non-acceptable music and condone a low quality of music and performance within the context of the church, to keep the young people in the church. What a heavy responsibility they will carry for permitting their youth to enjoy sin without guilt. 

Commitment

We have an awesome responsibility and a divine privilege to be faithful, assertive, and be good examples as Godly fathers. This is the will of our Heavenly Father for us as we co-labour with Him to make an end of sins and bring in everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9:24).

References

1Ellen G. White, Conflict and Courage, pages 140,141.

2Kenneth Wood, Review and Herald, “Take These Things Hence” January 20, 1972.