The Father Who Gives Good Gifts

‘Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.’ Proverbs 1: 8-9 (ESV)

The verse above, if presented to some’, may very likely invoke laughter and derision. Many people, including families, do not hold with the age old trademarks of what a family is. They want to see the dynamics of the family unit change into something that no longer resembles it. And in many ways the changes are already in place. It is a tug of war between good and evil.

God the Father created man, then woman, and then the family. He designed it in a most perfect way, that the family unit would care for one another, share their lives together, and the children born of it would receive good gifts. Gifts that would serve them, and others, for the rest of their lives. And they would live their lives to honor God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, the Son.

There is a lack of parenting in alot of homes in present times. We see children who do not know what respect is, either of persons or property. We see it in the news nearly everyday, another example of teenagers in trouble with law enforcement for any number of infractions. And often it is because they are on the streets, unsupervised, with no one at home to discipline them for their behaviour.

Fathers in Christian homes who honor what God began have an awesome responsibility. They are the priests of the home, and they set the tone for the raising up of their children with Christian principles. They teach love and respect, and obedience. They instill the sense of belonging, of being loved and cherished, in their children. They bring them up to be responsible citizens with a work ethic, and the all important sense of right and wrong.  When children reach adulthood, they will be equipped to make their own choices, and to choose well.

The Christian father emulates his heavenly Father. He teaches his children to pray, and to read the Word of God. He assures their safety, he provides their material needs, and he teaches them what they need to know to live in this world, and the next.  He honors the family unit as God intended it to be, and demonstrates obedience to his Father above.  He gives good gifts.

‘Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!’ Matthew 7: 9-11 (ESV)

Blessings!