What it Means to Be a Father

by Robert C. Veil, Jr.

God invented the very concept of fatherhood. He made it and exemplified it. He
demonstrated what it means to be a father. Any man interested in being a good father can see
clearly what it means by looking carefully at how God treats His children. For example…

1. To be a father is to love our wife and children with all of our heart. “Husbands, love your
   wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it,” (Ephesians 5:25). Our
   God loved us even when we were unlovable. When we were sin-ridden and undesirable, He
   demonstrated that love by sending his own Son to die for us, (John 3:16). “Behold what manner
   of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we
   are,” (1 John 5:3).
2. To be a father is to provide for our own family. “But if any provideth not for his own,
   and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever,” (1
   Timothy 5:8). This verse is primarily speaking of financial support, but it includes more than that.
   A father is concerned with all of the needs of his children—financial, educational, physical, social,
   emotional and spiritual needs. He cares deeply about them, and often places them above his own
   needs and desires.
3. To be a father is to be a teacher. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:
   but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord,” (Ephesians 6:4). This verse
   contains both negative and positive commands. On the negative side, fathers do not overcorrect or
   exasperate their children. They do not hold them to unrealistic or harsh expectations. Rather, they
   provide the necessary discipline and encouragement to allow their children to grow and mature at
   an appropriate pace. The Bible teaches us to respect and receive the instruction of our parents.
   “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and
   instruction.My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother,”
   (Proverbs 1:7-8). Fathers learn from God’s example that if they really love their children, they will
   provide the discipline and instruction they need. “For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Even as
   a father the son in whom he delighteth, (Proverbs 3:12). Good fathers, do not leave their children
   without the teaching and guidance they need to navigate life.
4. To be a father is to set an example worthy of imitation. Fathers set the spiritual tone in
   the family. Whether they realize it or not, their wife and children look to them for spiritual
   direction. Dad, nobody can really do it but you. When a father fails to do this, a godly wife may
   try to do it for him. She may try to make up the difference, but she cannot do so. God’s ordained
   way is for fathers to be the spiritual leaders of the family. For example, I remember my father
   being faithful in attending the services of the church. The rest of us did not even think of staying
   home or missing services. He was setting a worthy example, just like the apostle Paul, who
   commanded, “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
5. To be a father is the be faithful unto death. It has been observed that it is easy to become
   a father, but it is challenging to be a father. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the
   crown of life,” (Revelation 2:10). Godly fathers do not burn out, they don’t give up, they don’t stop
   running the Christian race when things get tough. We are not in the Christian life for only a short
   term venture. We have committed to see this thing through, all the way to the end. “If we endure,
   we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us,” (2 Timothy 2:12). Our
   world needs faithful fathers!
   It’s easy to take fathers for granted, like many take their heavenly Father for granted.
   Because He has always been there, we assume we are entitled to his fatherhood. We need to stop
   and appreciate our heavenly Father, and our earthly fathers more and more, especially those who
   are loving, providing, teaching, setting a worthy example, and are faithful unto death! To all of our
   fathers this day we say, “Thank you!” We love and appreciate you more than words can express.