Foundational Demands Of Fatherhood/Parenthood-2

FOUNDATIONAL DEMANDS OF FATHERHOOD-II—Proverbs 23:22-25

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Fatherhood is understood differently from two major perspectives.

1)Lost/secular people have a subjective worldly understanding of fatherhood that shifts constantly from person to person & generation to generation.

2)Whereas saved people seek to know God’s settled intent for fathers.

The Holy Spirit used the writer of Proverbs to reveal the foundational demands of Parenthood & Fatherhood particularly.

Foundational biblical demands of Fatherhood are available & accessible.

What are some of the foundational biblical demands of Fatherhood?

We have already discovered that

A foundational demand of Fatherhood is to...

1. EARN YOUR CHILD’S HEART(:22)

2—A foundational demand of Fatherhood/Parenthood is to...

SHARE TRUTH, WISDOM, INSTRUCTION, & UNDERSTANDING(:23)

Explanation/Illustration:(:22-23)

:23—“Buy the truth, & do not sell it, Also wisdom & instruction & understanding.”

It is imperative for a young man/woman to consider the ‘cost’ of “the truth” & to ‘purchase’ it. “Truth” is about reality versus what is not reality. “Truth” is about that which derives from God versus that which derives from man.

Lk. 14:25-33—“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

How is it possible to “buy” &/or “sell” “truth”? To “buy the truth” suggests devoting one’s precious time & labors toward obtaining God’s “truth.” As is rightly said, ‘All truth is God’s truth no matter where it is found.’ To buy “truth” is to direct & devote your heart’s desire to the discovery of “truth.”

“Buy the truth”— Buying truth involves sacrifice on the part of the buyer(the child). You must give-up something of yourself & willingly exchange it for God’s “truth.”

Thus a ‘godly-wise’ young man/woman will never “sell”(let go of) God’s “truth.” That is they will never ‘re-exchange’ it for that which is actually less. They will never give up on “truth”, never let go of it, & never discard it or dispose of it. If it has been ‘purchased’ outright, then “truth” will be so precious to it’s owner(having surrendered one’s labors to it) that it will be tightly held to.

Along with “truth” come at least three things that bolster God’s “truth”!

“Wisdom”—suggests the ability to use knowledge correctly as God would have us use it. It is applying good judgment based upon God’s desire.

“Instruction”—(AKA ‘discipline’) suggests personal discipline regarding the things of God’s desire.

“Understanding”—suggests a personal mental discernment of things in God’s scheme of life.

Each of the above becomes godly, when based upon, built upon, & applied thru God’s truth!

HOW we share with our children is key/important. And it is life-changing for the child & for the Father!

It is not simply an interaction, but is rather a mutual interchange involving acceptance & godly heartfelt offering.

This is why the ‘son’(:19) is told to “listen”, “do not despise”, “buy” “& do not sell.” These are things that are key to every child’s growth, into adulthood & thruout life. Therefore the father(& mother) is joyfully(:25) responsible as a teacher of his children to bring in the expertise of the ‘Wonderful Counselor’, Jesus Christ(Isa. 9:6).

Examples:

For fathers(& mothers) this is...

•As simple as teaching a young child how to ride a bicycle. Explanation is vital...as is experience.

•As simple as teaching a child how to shoot a gun. The ‘how’ involves much more than merely mechanics of the gun itself. You teach them the importance of a gun’s potential. Potential for danger & potential for provision & protection. You teach them the importance of people’s lives.

•As simple as teaching a child how to use a drill press, or a router, a table saw, etc., etc.. You teach them the importance of safety. You teach them their importance to you, their father. By making something useful or whimsical for others, you teach your child love for their mother & siblings, love for their church, their neighbors. You teach them that love is more than a concept, but is an attitude of the Christian heart that works it’s way out in the mouth, hands, & feet.