One Small Seed Newsletter – Edition #232, June 2020
I am personally inspired to dedicate this month to exploring Fatherhood from a Biblical perspective.
Fatherhood from a Biblical Perspective Defined
Fatherhood: A male parent; a male ancestor more remote than a parent; a title of respect; a position of male authority and rank. According to Jesus, it is a position of honor when properly adhered to but a position of disgrace when negated or compromised.
Fatherhood is more than just a biological role—it is a divine calling with responsibilities that shape families and societies. The Bible portrays fatherhood as an honorable position that requires wisdom and righteousness to be properly exercised. Understanding fatherhood from a biblical perspective helps us align our responsibilities with God’s design, emphasizing the importance of leadership, guidance, and love. A father’s role mirrors God’s relationship with His children, serving as a reflection of His care, discipline, and provision.
God as the First Father
In the beginning, by being our creator, God started the process of Fatherhood—the Potter and molder of clay (figuratively meaning us). Then He created humans, and propagation began. From a grander scale, He stands as the First Father, and because of this, we should honor Him. This is very important to anyone who believes in the spiritual life and heaven. Many hold opinions outside of what the Bible states, but I strive to stay with the Bible. As the beginner of all things pertaining to human life, God’s sovereignty remains paramount, and humans should respect and honor Him.
Biblical Instructions on Honoring Fathers
In Deuteronomy 10:20, Moses instructed the people, “Thou shall fear the Lord thy God and to him thou shall cling closely to…” Similarly, Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” and Proverbs 4:1 says, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” Verse 7 emphasizes, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Jesus reaffirmed the law in Matthew 15:4: “For God commanded, saying, Honor thy Father and Mother that thy days shall be long upon the earth which the Lord God has given thee, and He that curseth Father or Mother, let him die the death.” The Apostle Paul, addressing those outside the Mosaic law, said in Romans 13:7, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom is due; fear (respect) to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due. But in all things, love one another.”
Paul’s Admonition to Fathers
Paul also gave guidance to fathers: Ephesians 6:4 states, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Similarly, Colossians 3:21 advises, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
Personal Reflections on Fatherhood
I know that fathers aren’t perfect—not even the best fathers are perfect. On my scale of 1-10, the worst fathers huddle around two or three, while the best are off the chart. Personally, I rate myself in the 4-6 range since I’ve only been average in everything else in my life. Reflecting on fatherhood, I’ve never encountered a perfect father—whether seen through a teenager’s view or society’s perspective. That is my viewpoint.
I had a great father who taught me the principles I needed, even though we didn’t always see eye to eye. He was a Godly man who practiced what he preached and tried to teach others. On my scale of 1-10, I place him at eight or nine.
The Pursuit of Godly Fatherhood
Fathers can be compared to what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The mark that Paul was pressing for was a place of maturity or perfection in the presence of God. Romans 8:29 states, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.”
Perfection is a difficult goal, but I believe God understands our level of perfection since He created us. What matters is that we try. As Paul said, “I press toward the mark,” and he earned the prize. Perhaps we should measure ourselves by his standard and strive to excel beyond it.
Being a father is a tough job, and so is being a grandfather. Instead of two judges, I now have seven.
Final Thoughts: Honoring Our Heavenly Father
God bless the fathers, and praises to our Father in Heaven. The role of fatherhood is a sacred calling—one that requires wisdom, guidance, and perseverance. Scripture teaches us to honor our fathers, to seek wisdom, and to strive for righteousness in our roles as parents. Though earthly fathers may fall short, the pursuit of godly fatherhood remains a noble and necessary journey. Above all, we look to our Heavenly Father, whose love and guidance are perfect, as our ultimate example. Amen (of a truth, let it be so). Since I am not the final judge, I cannot define the perfect earthly father. However, I know that God, our heavenly Father, embodies perfect love.