Dad, Get Back in the Game!"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise son will be glad in him; let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you." Proverbs 23:24-25
Throughout our study together in Proverbs, it is noteworthy the number of times we read the phrase..."my son" as the writer of the book endeavors to communicate truth to his/her child.
"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 1:8
As a reader of Proverbs, we put ourselves in the place of the child who is pleaded with to listen and pursue wisdom. But now put yourself in the place of the parent, the one who is called upon to instruct and teach! Quite an awesome responsibility! So we turn to Proverbs itself for insight and spiritual guidance, with a special focus this past Sunday on the role of father and husband.
Before being concerned with our relation to family, friends and colleagues, let us be concerned with our relation to God, in short, our "vertical world." Before a man can be a godly husband, father, co-worker or neighbor, he has to be a godly man. To be a godly man is to recognize that he is under God's authority, because of an incredible relationship with Jesus Christ, all the while empowered by the Holy Spirit. A fear of the Lord that is not born of "fearing that God might hurt me," but rather being deathly afraid that I might hurt Him!
The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied and untouched by evil." Proverbs 19:23
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10
"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge." Proverbs 14:26-27
If our vertical world is aligned properly, our horizontal world will be in the proper perspective. Our relationships that include being husband, father, worker and neighbor flow from our relation to God, His Son and the Holy Spirit.
"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it." Proverbs 15:16-17
"The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life." Proverbs 22:4
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
As a reader of Proverbs, we put ourselves in the place of the child who is pleaded with to listen and pursue wisdom. But now put yourself in the place of the parent, the one who is called upon to instruct and teach! Quite an awesome responsibility! So we turn to Proverbs itself for insight and spiritual guidance, with a special focus this past Sunday on the role of father and husband.
Before being concerned with our relation to family, friends and colleagues, let us be concerned with our relation to God, in short, our "vertical world." Before a man can be a godly husband, father, co-worker or neighbor, he has to be a godly man. To be a godly man is to recognize that he is under God's authority, because of an incredible relationship with Jesus Christ, all the while empowered by the Holy Spirit. A fear of the Lord that is not born of "fearing that God might hurt me," but rather being deathly afraid that I might hurt Him!
The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied and untouched by evil." Proverbs 19:23
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10
"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge." Proverbs 14:26-27
If our vertical world is aligned properly, our horizontal world will be in the proper perspective. Our relationships that include being husband, father, worker and neighbor flow from our relation to God, His Son and the Holy Spirit.
"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it." Proverbs 15:16-17
"The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life." Proverbs 22:4
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
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