As we read the Scripture of Proverbs 4:1 " Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
If We can understand that God the Father wants us as fathers to be wise, acquire understanding so we can direct our families and our lives.
God the Father is a Role model for all earthly fathers. As I will list some of the qualities that God has and wants us to acquire as well. The Qualities of God the Father
God the Father : Loves - John 3:16; 1John 3:1
Corrects - Proverbs 29:17; Hebrews 12:6-7
Teaches - Proverbs 22:6 ; Deuteronomy 6:-5-9; Proverbs 22:15; Jer. 33:3
Directs, Guides - Proverbs 16:9: Proverbs 3:6
Provides - Luke 12:31; Philippians 4:19; Psalms 34:10: Matthew 7:11
Protects - Psalms 46:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Counsels - Psalms 73:24; Psalms 32:8 ; Isaiah 9:6
Has a Compassionate, Merciful Heart - Psalms 145:8-9
Forgives - 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 6:12; Psalms 103:3
Encourages - Joshua 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:16
Is an Example - John 13:15; 1Peter 2:21-25
Illustration: There was a young man that caused his family a lot of trouble and money. This young man was always getting into gangs and riots, stealing, shooting, all this was natural to him. One day all this that he had sown got back at him. One day an old man bend over because of the years was walking in a cemetery near a city of Indianapolis and as he was crying looking for a tomb and as soon as he came to the tombstone of whom he was looking for he fell to his knees and crying out loud said: Oh My Dearest Son! If I would have raised you the way I was supposed to in God's ways this wouldn't have happened to you, and If I would of served God you would be with me. OH ! My Son! Forgive me my precious Son. See this man was John Dillinger's Dad.
Sometimes we get so much caught up in our own needs and concerns that we just leave our sons and daughter to run wild and without direction, without correction, without love, and sometimes we fall short of being an example to them and our family. WE DONT OR WANT TO GIVE TIME TO GOD. There is a price to pay one day.(Proverbs 29:17)
Sometimes our sons and daughters get into trouble because maybe we didn't take the time, nor care to know what , where, why, who or when they are doing or going or who they are with. They give them all the right -a- way to come and go or whatever or where ever they want to do or go and whoever they want to hang around with. It's ok they just kids, they need to have some fun and experience the world, Hello? The dad gives them an open door whatever time they want to come whether be 2-3-4- o'clock n the morning hours just as long as they call .
Now days the dad nor the mom know who their kids friends are. They don't know where they hang out at. Sometimes kids stay out for days and mom dad don't know if they are dead or alive, there is never a phone call to them. Now tell me you all think this is a Role Model of a Father that God wants him to be?
Theses kids are barley seen by their dad, why because he is always working or hanging around with his friends, or doing other things that don't edify his family.
The father takes his family for granted, this father is struggling with his own habitual habits and doesn't have or think about his own household that it's going down the drain into perishing and is being destroyed little by little.
This father valued other things that are no importance to his life, Rather than his own family that needed his attention more.
A lot of Fathers react too late , when the house is burning down and or the child is dead or in prison or has committed or has committed wrong to self and destroyed himself and others.
( Illustration) Persil Soto
When the child has no role Model in his or her life its like well need some love, so they go looking for love in wrong places. When dad and mom and rest of relatives are corrupted where they going to get a Role Model to follow or receive what they didn't get at home from their parents. A lot of those prostitutes, and alcoholics, drugs addicts sexual perverts, didn't have a role model down the road they got abuse by a person that was like them looking for love, protection, compassion encouragement and their father was never home or abandoned them. There are thousands of children without role models in their lives, and they end up dead, prison , streets, running without direction, running wild, until something catches them. When the son or daughter get betrayed by life and it doesn't work out the way they expected it to , they go into a depression and that leads them into whole bunch of evil acts that the devil plans for them in order to destroy them.
Illustration: There was a father and mother that brought their son before the judge and told him we don't want him anymore, we don't know what to do anymore. They accused the boy of different things that he would do, stealing, don't want do anything around house. We want you Judge to put him away where he can't do these things anymore, lock him up. The Judge ask the boy what do you have to say about all this? The boy with his big tears flowing down his cheeks, looked at the Judge and said: Judge I did some of the things they are accusing me of, but my life would have being a lot more different if I would of had different kind of Parents. ( Colossians 3:21)
See if we are loving, caring, compassionate, encouraging, counseling, listening, teachers of our children things like this will not happen, why because we are examples of the Qualities that God wants us to have for our families, for ourselves as well. We need to have time to Listen to our children, our family. Children need Role Model to Follow.
Illustration:( 1Samuel 3:11-13) A young man got into trouble, got arrested and put in jail. The father was called by the Judge at the trail. The Judge asked the Father do you know who, where, when, and how your son got into all these problems? Can you tell me ? Judge asked the father where does your son go when he leaves the house at night? Who are his friends, who does he hang around with? Can you tell me, the Judge asked? The father had to answer No I do not know where , who nor when nor how all this happened to him.
So, the Judge asked the father do you own an animal? Father said yes i do , what type of animal, the Judge asked? Father answered a Horse. Judge proceeded in asking the father do you keep him in a shed, do you know where he is, do you feed him? When night comes you know where he is at?
You keep him locked up so nobody can steal him? You feed him at the times when he supposed to eat? Is that right? The father answered : Yes, know where he is at, I do all of what you just said everyday. Judge asked the father tell me something: from who do you expect to receive help in the coming years from your horse or your son? The father answered its natural, to expect more from my son.
The judge said then explain to me why are there so many irresponsible fathers that waiting to receive more from their sons than a horse and the father takes care more of the horse. You can tell me where your horse is at all times because you have him well protected, but you can't tell me where your son is because you let him run wild without reproach and correction. Shame on you Dad.
There are fathers and mothers that call wrong right and right wrong. Wake up people we are living in the last days. Who is going to care more for your family? If you don't care for them you let them do whatever they want and you my brother and my sister are sending them straight into the arms of Satan.
If we are Sons of God then God's Qualities of a Father should be in Us.
God wants A Father to do and follow His Example. It is a Necessary, it's a Worth more than anything else in this world, Man of the House, acquire knowledge from God, so that you can lead your loved ones to greener pastures in Jesus Name.
Come this Morning,
there are some Fathers that God has be calling on this morning, deep inside you, you need more knowledge of God. Put off the Macho Man and humble yourself this morning, God knows all things, your sleeping, your waking up , your mind wondering away into stuff not supposed to think about. Ask Lord Make me the Father Role Model that you want me to be this morning.