Father's Day

Life consists of many relationships, such as the:

• Husband - wife relationship

• Grandparent - grandchild relationship

• Aunt - niece & nephew relationship

• Uncle - nephew & niece relationship

• Brother - sister relationship

• Neighbor relationship

• Business relationship

One of the most special relationships is the FATHER AND CHILD relationship, and it seems that this is one that the devil fights more than any other.

WHY DOES SATAN FIGHT THIS RELATIONSHIP SO MUCH? Because when dad is being the spiritual leader he should be, his influence is so great that the whole family is affected by it.

Dads are given one of the biggest, most important jobs on the face of the earth. However, there is not one class that dads can enroll in to learn how to become a good dad.

Illus: If a man wishes to become an electrician, he can enroll in a class, or have someone personally teach him the basics of electricity and wiring. The same goes for one who wishes to become a plumber, carpenter, or brick mason.

All these jobs are important, and we consider it to be important to be properly trained to do them.

But there are few places where a man can go to learn to be a good dad.

WHAT CAN HE DO?

• He can follow the example of his own dad, and of other dads

• Most importantly he can turn to God's Word

But not many will study to find help in God’s Word. Let's turn to the scriptures today and examine this very special relationship of FATHER and CHILD.

We see that Joshua was a family man. We can learn a great deal about what a father should be as we study Joshua’s life.

I. THE FATHER AND HIS CHOICES

Look at Joshua 1:15, we read, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve..."

In verses 1-14, Joshua summoned all the people of Israel to Shechem. He called also for the elders and heads and other leaders to meet there. Once they were all assembled there, he began to remind them (the next thirteen verses) of how God brought them from east of the Euphrates River, where they had served and worshipped idols, to the land that God Himself had graciously provided for them.

Look at verses 13-14, "And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord."

Now, for the Lord to have done so much for the people of Israel, you would think it would be no trouble to get them to worship and serve Him, but they transgressed just as we do today, even though we have been so richly blessed.

However, before we are too quick to judge them, we need to examine our own lives.

Some dads have reaped the blessings of God, just as Israel did. They have a job, good health, and strength, and God has watched over their families, but look how difficult it is to get them to spend a few hours worshipping God each week.

You would think they would be grateful enough to gladly do this! So you see, mankind basically has not changed. God richly pours out His blessings, and they constantly look for ways to selfishly enjoy His benefits.

Joshua was not one of those UNGRATEFUL DADS!

He says in verse 15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."

Joshua was a dad who knew CHOICES HAD TO BE MADE. He gave them three choices of who to serve:

A. FIRST, "...WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED..."

Their fathers had not served the true and living God. He gave them the opportunity of being "chips off the old blocks."

Illus: For years, a pastor tried to get one man to come to church. It was obvious that God had been good to the man. He enjoyed good health, had a good job, and God had watched over his family. Every time the pastor would visit that home, the man's wife and children were always kind. The pastor would ask him to come to church, but the man would straighten up and say, "Preacher, I am not going to promise. I might come, but I am not going to promise." One night that man was sitting in his living room and had a massive heart attack and died. Then he came to church - in a casket. Several years later, the preacher saw one of the sons, who had since married. They had a nice visit, and the preacher asked him if he would come and join them in worship Sunday. That boy did exactly what his father before him had done; he straightened up and said, "Preacher, I am not going to promise. I might come, but I am not going to promise."