Weekly Devotional 10-5-15 A Men’s Fellowship Conversation

Weekly Devotional 10-5-15 A Men’s Fellowship Conversation

A few weeks ago several men gathered together for a men’s breakfast, fellowship and discussion time at a nearby church. After finishing breakfast, the pastor of the church led the group in a discussion concerning the responsibility of fathers to their children. He led us to Ephesians 6:1-4 which reads, “1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: 3that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. 4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

After the passage had been read the pastor posed a set of questions concerning verse 4. This is where it got interesting. Rather than ask how a Christian father should lead, instruct and bring up his children, he asked how a father should do these things. I am not sure if he intentionally left out “Christian fathers” or not, but by doing so responses of human philosophies followed. By the answers that were given it was clear that most of the participants missed that the passage was referring to Christian fathers, not just fathers. Finally after much discussion concerning fathers in general one of our group drew us back to a consideration of verse 4. “Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Again there was much discussion as to what Paul meant and many observations were proffered.

Wondering what Paul meant and what was said by the participants of our fellowship I came home and consulted the commentaries of John MacArthur, John Walvoord and William MacDonald. I found that each believed that Paul was encouraging Christian fathers to not rule over their children (or over their families for that matter) with unbendable strictness. MacArthur wrote, “In the pagan world of Paul’s day, and even in many Jewish households, most fathers ruled their families with a rigid and domineering authority. The desires and welfare of wives and children were seldom considered. The apostle makes clear that a Christian father’s authority over his children does not allow for unreasonable demands and strictures that might drive his children to anger, despair, and resentment.” William MacDonald wrote, “Fathers should not provoke (move) their children to anger and resentment with unreasonable demands, with undue harshness, with constant nagging.” John Walvoord wrote, “Fathers are not to exasperate their children with unreasonable demands, petty rules, or favoritism. Such actions cause children to become discouraged.”

All three of the commentators confirmed that Christian fathers are to lead and instruct their children in the admonition of the Lord. That is, by gentle or friendly reproof and warning. MacArthur wrote, “Admonition calls for systematic discipline and instruction, which brings children to respect the commands of the Lord as the foundations for all life, godliness and blessing.” William MacDonald wrote, “Admonition means warning, rebuke, reproof, but it should be carried out in ways that are respectful with the will of the Lord, in the love of the Lord.” John Walvoord wrote, “Christian fathers are to bring up their children by nourishing them in the Lord, training them to seek and follow the Lord.”

There is another element that wasn’t mentioned by these writers, but possibly implied. Christian fathers should lead by example. The old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do” just doesn’t work.
As I look in the mirror I realize that I have fallen short in being a Christian father, but having fallen short doesn’t mean that I have to continue on that path. From this day forward I can be an example that pleases the Lord. Lord help me, Lord help us, as we cannot perfect this in ourselves.

stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man

www.gbchurch.us

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