Good morning! It’s great to see all of you! I'm glad you chose to be with us this morning. Well, Happy Father's Day to all the men who are here today! Just last month we celebrated Mother's Day and today it’s fitting we acknowledge the contributions all the men here make to the lives of those around them.
In class one day, a teacher asked her students to describe what Father’s Day meant to them. One young fellow quickly stood and said, “It’s just like Mother’s Day only you don’t have to spend as much on the gift!” I guess that pretty much sums things up so let’s pray and we can all head to lunch. Just kidding!
On Father’s Day, dads often receive either a new tie or some sort of tool. Tools are important to a man. There’s something both comforting and encouraging about tools. Tools can empower a man to do things he might not otherwise try to tackle. And it seems the more tools a man has, the more confidence he has in himself and his abilities. Of course, that can be both good and bad: it’s bad if he doesn’t know how to use those tools correctly, but it’s good if he understands how the tools work and why they are so important to the task at hand.
Now there are indeed some tools a man just has to have if he is ever going to get this whole “man thing” down right. So today I want to look at a few of the essential tools God has provided for us guys, how they work, and why they are so important. We’ll be going through several passages of scripture today so be sure you to take a lot of notes. Oh yea, this is for the guys – never mind.
Any time a man has a task set before him, it’s best to begin by wrapping his mind around what he’s actually been asked to do. Ladies, we can’t rush into these things. We have to get into the right frame of mind, if you will, preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the task ahead. Having a game plan is essential. To explain this further, let’s turn to 1 Timothy 3:1-4.
I’m going to be using the NIV translation, so a few of the words will be different, but the meaning and the intent of the author is exactly the same. Everybody with me. Guys, if you’re there just give out a loud grunt.
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
Men, if we’re going to be overseers, that is the head of our households, good husbands and Godly fathers to our children, we first have to make sure our head is on square. If we want to be respected, we have to give our families reasons to respect us. And not just because we bring in a paycheck to pay the bills, but because our character is above reproach: That we are true to our wife, we are level headed, gentle, and able to manage things in a worthy manner. It’s tough sometimes, but we have to show self restraint, patience, and compassion. And all that has to be coupled with a resolve of noble leadership.
Guys, that means we have to get square with ourselves before we can have a lasting, positive impact on those we love. (Hold up tri-square) Your relationship with God is your most important relationship, because everything else is built upon it. Are you in line with the word of God? Each morning I encourage you to ask yourself if you are "square" with God.
As I was growing up, working in my father’s plumbing shop, I started off sorting fittings and sweeping the floors. I learned the names of the tools, fittings, and the purpose for each one. When I was about nine or ten years old, I began to go out with the men on the jobs. That was a real milestone in my life! I felt like I was really accomplishing something and on my way to becoming a man. I would tag along and watch them as they worked. There was a man who took me under his arm and taught me a lot about life, relationships, integrity, hard work, accountability, oh, and yes, plumbing. His name was Pete Williams. I came across this picture of Pete and me.
I’m on the far left, then Pete and we are with Nate Williams, the general contractor on a job we were doing. I think I’m about fourteen or fifteen when this was taken.
I believe this is the only picture I have of Pete and me. There is no way I can relate how much of an influence Pete had on my life. I still think of him often and miss him dearly. Measuring tape This measuring tape reminds me of Pete. (Hold up measuring tape.) But not for the reason you might think. It’s the symbol of another helpful tool we find in God’s Word and it’s found in Proverbs 22:6. Let’s read this out loud, together.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
I was lucky to meet and work with Pete when I was very young, actually about eight years old, and I’m sure that had a lot to do with the influence he had on my life. A young child is very impressionable. Not only what we say and do can stick with a child for years, but especially the things we teach them and the manner in which we mentor them. Invest your time and energy into a young person and even when they are old, they will remember.
The measuring tape? Well, I remember one day Pete told me to go and cut a piece of half inch copper 14 and three quarters of an inch long. I ran out to the truck as quickly as I could, laid my ruler on the pipe, made a quick mark with my pencil, and twirled the cutter around the copper as fast I could. Running back in I proudly handed it to Pete who already had his ruler out. He measured it, and sure enough, it was too short. “Measure twice. Cut once” he said. That’s stuck with me ever since. But more than that Pete’s influence on me helped me grow as a man. He made a measurable difference in my life.
Pete was very good to me and even though he would never admit it, he was a gentle soul. But like most kids, as I grew older and became a teenager, I have to admit there were times when he had to get firm with me. (Hold up hammer) The same was true with my own father, except I could get away with more with Pete than I could dad.
My dad and I were never very close, but he certainly taught me a lot as well. Dad didn’t say a whole, but when he spoke we knew we’d better listen. In fact, sometimes he didn’t have to say anything at all and we understood perfectly what he meant. Dad had this “look” he could give that would immediately send chills down your spine. You would see it and immediately freeze in your tracks like a deer in the headlights.
At the time it was pretty terrifying. But as I look back, I can see he was doing what he thought was best and I admit, much of it was indeed for my own good.
A good hammer is essential to have in your tool belt because it can be used in so many ways: to drive home a point or to gently tap something back into alignment. A hammer and discipline share a lot in common. This tool can be found in Hebrews 12:10-13. Let’s see what God says about the proper discipline of a good father.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Using the tool of proper discipline yields good results. Sometimes it needs to be swift and stern, other times it should be in the form of a loving tap.
We do have to be careful when it comes to discipline. It’s easy to become too strict about too many things that are not that important in the grand scheme of things. My dad was great at discipline, and that helped me a lot, but we never really connected relationally. We never really did the fun, dad and son things I hoped we could do together that allowed us to connect on a deeper level. On the other hand, I remember Pete and his wife took me out on my very first date with a girl. I remember, they came and picked me up, took me over to my friend’s house, and we went bowling at Pla-Mor lanes and then to Shakey’s Pizza Parlor. Funny how I still remember that.
Pete had this uncanny way of managing the balance between discipline and kindness. Too much discipline can lead to exasperation. Too little of it can lead to chaos and disrespect. It’s not easy to achieve that unless you have a tool to help you know when you’re off a bit. That brings us to our next tool. (Hold up level) A level tells us how far off something is one way or another, and shows us when we’re leaning too much one way or another. Ephesians 6:4 is a good illustration of this tool.
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Our job is not to exasperate our children, but to instruct them, discipline them, encourage them, and love them the way the Lord has asked us to do. Did you notice in Hebrews 12:13, that we just read, it tells us to “Make level paths for your feet?” That’s not an easy job and it requires a lot of balance. It requires us to know when we’re leaning too much to one side or the other. When it comes to discipline, keep a level head. Amen?
Which brings us to an item you may not always think of as a tool: a good pair of work gloves. (Put on gloves) You see, a good pair of gloves protects us as well as the task at hand. Sometimes we get so focused on our job we lose sight of why we’re doing it in the first place. Gloves fit over our hands and they physically cushion, protect, and shield us for unnecessary harm and pain, but they also soften our touch and protect what it is we’re shaping and building. Gloves are a lot like the compassion we are called to have with our wives, children, and families. There are many passages that address compassion, but I for the sake of time, I want to look just two. The first is found in Luke 15. This chapter begins on page 1490 in the pew Bible.
In this chapter we see Jesus telling those gathered around Him three parables. First is the parable of the Lost Sheep. The second is about a woman who loses a coin. The third is the famous parable of the Lost Son. In each of these cases, Jesus is showing the importance of compassion, especially with the lost sheep and the prodigal son.
Yes, sometimes our family members my stray or even leave us for a time. But our love and compassion for them should never fade. Even though the religious leaders of the day refused to associate with those who had strayed from God and His Word, Jesus had compassion on them and would seek them out. He would find them and let them know how much He loved them, cared for them, and longed for them to return to Him.
Likewise as husbands, fathers, and men, we too need to show compassion. We need to reach out to anyone who has strayed and lovingly help them return to a right relationship with not only ourselves and our family, but more importantly to a right relationship with Jesus Christ. The second passage I want to share is Psalm 103:3 and the Psalmist puts this way
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
Now there are some tools a man has to have, just to say he has one. Am I right? You know, it’s a tool you own but seldom use. But they sure are handy when you need it and they help validate our manhood. Tools like this stud finder! (Hold up stud finder - maybe do a couple of "beeps" as you scan yourself!)
Guys, we all like to be known for our manhood and that’s good. That’s the way God made us. We are called to be the leaders of our households, families, and churches. And ladies, it is important to our ego and self-perception if you validate us on a regular basis, right guys? So guys, for the times you’re feeling a little down, get yourself a stud finder and scan yourself!
As great as this tool might be, we have to be careful about using it on ourselves too much. Because we tend to have such big egos, we have to keep things in perspective. Yes, we are to be the head of the house, our family, and our church. But there is one greater than us and we have to keep that in mind while we go about being the man God called us to be. Turn with me to Hebrews 3:1-4.
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Guys, as we build our homes, family, and church let’s remember we are a vital, important tool God has in his tool belt. Yes, we can build certain things, but God is the builder of everything. Allow His hand to guide you, and work through you. Allow God to use you. Strive to become an essential tool for God. Amen?
Your Bible is the most essential tool you can carry. It is a comprehensive reference and how to manual that is priceless as we go about our work of being a Godly man.
So guys, there are a few of the tools God has provided for us. But in order for a tool to be useful, it has to be put to use. We can’t just leave them hanging above our work bench. It’s time for us to get to work. And that brings us to our last passage for today, Ephesians 6:13-18. It’s on page 1667 in the pew Bible. (Begin putting on tool belt and adding tools as you read passage. Include a hard hat for the helmet of salvation.)
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Happy Father’s Day, men. Thank you for being the Godly men you are to your wives, your families, and to this church. May God bless you richly as you use the tools He has provided for you to do His work.
Would you pray with me?
