Father’s Day is a holiday to honor fathers everywhere and to celebrate the role of fathers in their families and in society. The role of a father in the development of their children is something that is not to be taken lightly. Fatherhood comes with a lot of responsibility. Ephesians 6:4 says “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” One of the main responsibilities of a Christian father is to be the spiritual leader of the household and instruct their children in the ways of the Lord.

Proverbs 23:24 says “The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.” Fathers have to make sure that they impart wisdom to their children and teach them what they learned from their own mistakes. A good father is one who communicates with their children and shows them how to differentiate between right and wrong and also leads by example.  When fathers do this along with the mother their children will be wise and they will be able to delight in their children.

Fathers also have to make sure they show compassion towards their children when they make mistakes. Psalm 103:13 says “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” So often fathers tend to become the disciplinarians and only spend time correcting their children and disciplining them without showing compassion. A good father is one who understands that their children are not perfect and shows compassion for them and prays with them and builds them up.

Proverbs 14:26 says “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.” Fathers are supposed to put their trust in the Lord and be God-fearing. When children see their parents always trusting in the Lord and always putting their faith in him they will learn to do the same in their own life. Proverbs 22:6 says “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” This verse clearly says that fathers and mothers have to start children off in the ways of the Lord when they do so they will never turn away from trusting in the Lord all their lives because they saw their own father and mother do the same.

So what does it mean to be a father? It means to take complete ownership and responsibility in bringing up your children in the ways of the Lord and teaching them to trust in the Lord all their lives. Fathers who are always involved in the spiritual lives of their children and teach them how to trust in the Lord and pray at all times are going to create future fathers or mothers who will do the same for their children. In the end, if you can play a part in the spiritual development of your children then everything else in their life will be okay. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” If you can teach your children to seek God and his kingdom then everything else in their life will be okay.