Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12
I. INTRODUCTION (Focusing Activity)
Happy Father’s Day! Many Father’s Day sermons seem to blast dads and tear them down for their struggles in parenting, but I hope to be more positive and reflective today as we honor how our dads teach and guide us. We will also honor how God our Father teaches and guides us.
These past few weeks I have been contemplating my own mortality a little more than usual. How quickly 44 years of my life have flown by. As some of you know, I became an adoptive dad close to 11 years ago. It has radically changed my life and my thinking ever since.
Many Christians vocally and abusively bash even other Christians over the abortion issue, but let me ask these questions: Have you adopted a child? Are you providing healing or more harm to situation? Are you just a clanging gong or clashing cymbal without true love? Remember, the healing begins with me. That is why I believe God has blessed Nancy and I with an epically awesome adopted daughter. I want to encourage you to become a part of the healing.
And now as a Dad I have been reflecting on what I am teaching my daughter and what would I say to her to encourage her in her faith journey with Jesus. Perhaps in my own reflection it will help you in your faith journey as well with your loved ones.
These Are the Words I Would Say
(Sidewalk Prophets)
(Final chorus lyrics revised by me)
Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,
Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,
These are the words I would say,
From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say.
II. CRITICAL REFLECTION
• What last words would you say to those you love dearly in this life?
• What would your life actions say to those you love dearly in this life?
• What is my life teaching and showing my spouse, children, and grand-children?
• What is the legacy of true success I will leave here?
III. TRANSITION
King Solomon left us with great fatherly wisdom and some great reflections in his proverbs. Each proverb contains a wise truth and a conditional promise that holds true and is relevant for us today.
There is perhaps no better introduction to this section of Scripture we will review today than the very first words of the book of Proverbs:
Proverbs 1:1-7.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
IV. SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION
Read Proverbs 3:1-12. (Unless read in a Scripture reading prior to the sermon).
1. Don’t forget these simple truths. (vv. 1-2)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:1. My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart…
We all want to be remembered fondly by our loved ones. As dads we want our children to remember the good things we have said and done and forgive the wrong. We want, above all, a place in our children’s hearts, a place that is indelible, where they will always remember us.
God wants the same thing. He wants an indelible place in our hearts where we remember how good and wise He is.
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:2. …for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
As dads we know that if our kids and grand-children do follow the good things in our lives it will lead them to a life filled with God’s goodness and very best.
God as our heavenly Father, also wants our very best. He can bring this peace and prosperity into our lives and our kids lives if we are willing to keep Him and His words in our hearts.
2. Don’t lose your grip on love and loyalty. (vv. 3-4)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:3. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
We know as dads that faith, hope, and love are the very greatest essentials of life. We know that when we walk away from these, we walk away from God and we walk into spiritual misery and ruin. One of our greatest hopes is for our children to come to faith and to love God and others. We know this is for their very best.
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:4. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
We all want a good reputation. Mostly we would like a good reputation with God, but we also want one with men. Even more than our good name, as dads we want our children to have a good name. We know that if they have faith, hope, and love they can find that good name.
3. Be strong in the Lord and not yourself. (vv. 5-6)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:5-6a. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him…
Trust is a hard-won outlook in a skeptical, cynical, and individualistic world. It is especially hard to trust someone that you can’t see with your eyes, touch with your hands, or hear with your ears. But that is not how you see, touch, or hear God my friends—it is with the heart. If your heart is hardened by skepticism, cynicism, or self-centeredness it will be very difficult for you to see, feel, or hear God.
But if your heart is softened by His love, by your repentance, and by submission to Him, it will be very easy for you to see, feel, and hear God. Then you can learn to trust Him more with each passing day. This what we want for our kids.
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:6b. …and He will make your paths straight.
God will then lead you through the brokenness to healing, and a straight path that leads closer and closer to Him. As dads we want to see our children walk with God because we know God is looking out for our very best in life.
4. Run to God and run away from evil. (vv. 7-8)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
It is easy for all of us to fall into self-righteousness and pride. We must continually run away from such things and the evil that this world would mix us up in. As dads, none of us really wants to see our kids be arrogant, or materialistic, or fall into drunkenness, sexual immorality, or the drug culture that is so pervasive around us. We want our kids to run away from these things and run to God.
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Does avoiding the things that God says are bad for us make us healthier and happier people? Yes. Without a doubt. The times that I have been absolutely miserable in my life were the times when I was involved with evil. Perhaps you can say the same. The best moments of my life have been walking with God.
I know that our kids probably won’t listen and apply this lesson until they experience it for themselves. I wish as a dad that they would hear God’s voice in this before they choose to ruin their hearts, their minds, or their bodies.
5. Honor God with everything you own. (vv. 9-10)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:9. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.
Just as we show honor to our mothers and fathers, so also as dads we want to teach our kids how important it is to honor God. We give the first day of the week and the firstfruits of our income to remind us that He is the One who has blessed us with everything He has made us stewards of, including our children. Everyday and everything belongs to Him. That is what we want our kids to see in us and we hope they will continue to live in His Way.
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:10. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
God’s blessing is more than merely physical things, as important as we know these materialistic things to be for life here. As dads we know it is God’s spiritual blessing that is most important: they are like bread and wine to us. It is both the physical and spiritual blessings that we want our kids to share in.
6. Find wisdom and humility in God’s loving discipline. (vv. 11-12)
A. Wise truth:
Proverbs 3:11. My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke.
No one likes to be corrected. We like to think that we are right all the time. Kids really don’t like it when we discipline them. They throw fits, have outbursts of anger, and sometimes hold grudges. No dad wants their kids to hate them, but no dad wants their kids to grow up and be evil to people or hurt themselves. So we must love our kids enough to discipline them.
Well, we are all just a bunch of kids to God, no matter how old you are here. Since God loves us perfectly, He also will discipline us when we are being evil to others or harmful to ourselves. To resent Him for His love is the worse kind of slap in the face. Sadly, many people do resent and hold grudges against Him. Isn’t it time to thank your dad for loving you enough to discipline you? Isn’t it time to thank God for disciplining you?
B. Conditional promise:
Proverbs 3:12. Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
The promise is a blessing of wisdom in realizing that God loves us and wants His very best for our lives. I hope my daughter can see that as well. That I love her, delight in her, and want God’s very best in her life.
V. LIFE REFLECTION
So how does my life as a dad (or grand-dad) and the Bible compare?
What am I teaching (my) children (or grand-children) by my words and actions?
Am I walking closely with God as my Father?
VI. LIFE RESPONSE
“What Shall We Do?” Challenge
1. Realize that God loves you and wants His very best for your life.
2. Walk closer and talk more with God as your Father.
3. Teach your kids how to walk and talk with God.
4. Think and perhaps write the words you would say to your loved ones.
5. Say these words before you depart here.
6. Leave a legacy of love for them to never forget.
