|
 
March 1, 2003, Vol.2, No.5. The Example of a Daddy Keith Sharp A A picture is worth a thousand words.@ When I think of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, I see in my mind a fireman tenderly carrying the battered, limp form of a two year old. When I think of September 11th my mind envisions the horrifying sights of a jet airliner disintegrating into Tower Two and of people hurling themselves out windows to certain death. No words are necessary. The pictures say it all.The examples daddies set for their children are powerful pictures that have enormous impact in the lives of little ones. To tykes, their own daddies are their greatest heros. Nobody, not even superman, is as strong as Daddy. No one, not even Solomon, is as wise. To little boys, Daddy is their model to be imitated. To little girls, Daddy is their image of what a man is and the kind of husband they should expect.I am now 56 years old and have been preaching for over 36 years. But, when I critically analyze my life, I find that many of my habits of thought, speech, and conduct are reflections of what I saw in Dad the first eighteen years of my life. My dad has been dead for over fourteen years, but even now, when I make critical decisions, a major factor is, what would Dad have done? I shudder to think how my example has impacted my own grown children. David was a man after God=s own heart (Acts 13:22; cf. 1 Samuel 13:14). But David committed the sins of adultery and murder (2 Samuel chapter 11). Absalom, David=s son, undoubtedly knew of his father=s sins. As a grown man, Absalom rebelled against his father, seeking to kill David (2 Samuel 16:11; 17:1-4) and take the kingdom for himself (2 Samuel 15:10-12). As an act to insure that no reconciliation with David was possible and thus to unite Israel behind him in rebellion, Absalom committed adultery with ten of David=s concubines on the roof of David=s house in the sight of all Israel (2 Samuel 16:22). David=s sin that he sought to hide came back to haunt him as his own son publicly committed adultery with David=s own concubines. David=s army defeated Absalom=s and killed Absalom. David=s heart broken lament on receiving news of his son=s death should deeply impress all fathers of the danger of leading our children astray by setting bad examples before them.
Where could one find more pitifully sorrowful words? David=s own bad example reflected in the life of his son brought inestimable grief. Daddies, what do your children see in your lives? Do they hear you pray and sing praises to God, or do they hear you take the Lord=s name in vain or tell crude jokes about vulgar subjects? (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 5:13; Ephesians 4:31; 5:3-4) When little children come to school cursing and using filthy, four letter words, where do you think they learned to talk that way? When they tell crude jokes, where do you think they heard them? Daddies, do we set an example of hard work and responsible spending for our children or of laziness and wasteful spending for frivolities? (Ephesians 4:28; Colossians 3:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8) How responsible will they be? Do they see us put the Lord first in our lives? (Matthew 6:33) If we can=t make it to church or Bible class because of minor problems that don=t keep us from going to work or school, what are we teaching them? Do we teach them to be thankful to the Lord for His many blessings? (1 Thessalonians 5:18) If we don=t even pause before meals to thank Him for our food, what are we teaching them? (1 Timothy 4:1-5) If we are always griping and complaining about work, about the brethren, and about life in general, what are we teaching them? (Philippians 2:14-16)
How do they see us treat others? (Matthew 5:43-48; 7:12; Romans 12:17-21) What are we teaching them? A generation ago I saw a powerful picture in the newspaper. In Northern Ireland, a land filled with violence and sectarian hatred, a man walked along taking bold strides. Behind him a little guy about waist high stretched out his short legs as far as he could to match the strides of the man in front - his daddy. He was trying with all his might to be just like Daddy. In that land where many young men sought to kill those whom they hated, what would the next generation be like? The picture says it much better. Dads, how are you walking before your children?
|
Do
we regularly study the Bible with them at home? (Psalm 119:97) What are we
teaching them?