A Father’s Love
A. Do not dishonor your Father
B. We should love like God Our Father through all things
DBF, Father’s Day Celebration, 6/16/02
I praise God for Godly Father’s and Mother’s. Today we want to celebrate Godly Fathers.
I’ve told you that I did not grow up in a Christian home or environment. I did grow up in a religious home. I could say my prayers by the age of 2 and I did go to required studies—but my heart was far from the Jesus Christ that I know and love today.
I could say that my Father taught me several things. In Louisiana, as in Bristol Bay common sense is something that people are blessed with. Those without it are scorned. If you aren’t born knowing how to run a boat—obviously you have no common sense because the most common of people we knew could do that simple thing.
Backing up a boat at the landing was something I could do with ease before I ever learned how to drive a car forward—it was called common sense.
Of course my mom who hated it would have called it senseless because she was really scared of that whole action.
I came to be a man in a world vastly separated from the love that I now know to be of God.
I remember my father never really telling me he loved me are even hugging me after about the age of 5—I was expected to be a man. I can tell you that this man didn’t like it and resented that along with many other things until I truly found what love really was.
In taking a course at Trinity recently on the Parables, we studied the Parable of the Prodigal Sons and I thought how apt a portion of scripture for Father’s day. I pray that the Father’s here today will be honored and that we might learn how we might be better Father’s and Mother’s and sons and daughters on a continuing basis.
A. Do not dishonor your Father
Luke 15:11-20 (KJV)
And he said, A certain man had two sons: [12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. [13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. [14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. [17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, [19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. [20] And he arose, and came to his father.
I am reminded of an illustration I used a few years ago about a father and his young son.
The father was cutting the grass and his young son came and wanted to help. The father allowed him to help but as can be expected the son caused the mower to sway back and forth and the neat edge that had so expertly been maintained became a series of swaying lines with many patches of grass left un-mowed.
Hoping the child would grow tired the father continued on for a little while. When the child’s energy continued he was about to tell him how much easier it would be for daddy to do the work alone when the thought hit him.
This is exactly how things are between God and I in doing His work.
Sometimes I really want to join in and be with God and get to the work. I often time seem to not really know what the work He lays before me is like or how it is supposed to be accomplished or look when He is done.
You see, I imagine God being their doing the mowing, tilling and harvesting of His garden, and child though I am—He allows me to partake of His presence—knowing that I will not pot the soil properly, I will not fertilize the produce that he has put me around, and occasionally I will grow tired of growing and harvesting.
Yet, God gently guides me and allows me to walk with Him in the great and awesome task of His glorious kingdom. A place I cannot and do not deserve but for His awesome love and His giving of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh, what a Father that allows me to work in HIS vineyard.
And he said, A certain man had two sons: [12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
Our Father in the Parable is much the same way. You might say today—Well what is the big deal about a son asking a father for his portion of inheritence?
It would depend on-- Who’s son is asking?
You know that I have said often—The world says that he who dies with more toys wins. I say that he who dies with more toys—the kids or the government wins—We cannot take anything but the things of the kingdom with us when we die.
In much the same way—in the Ancient Near East it was customary that all property was considered a familial holding. It was given that a parent would be cared for through the provisions to the end of their lives.
For this younger son to ask the father for his inheritance was in effect to say “Give me what will be mine if I survive you.” Another way to say this is “I wish you were dead” or something like “You are dead to me—give me what is mine.”
Boy, I tell you that if Dominique came and told me something like this tomorrow—I might not be overjoyed.
Have you however told your Heavenly Father this?
God, give me your blessings—but as far your commandments I wish they were dead…
God answer this prayer---
God give me health---
God give me wealth---
A number of us if we examine our own lives towards our Heavenly Father, must admit that we seek things from a taking perspective instead of a servant’s perspective.
How do you treat your earthly father?
How you treat your father here will depend on large part to the way that you treat your heavenly Father.
I am raising my sons in a manner in which they know that God is the bearer of all truly good gifts. We are just the ones here whom our great Heavenly Father are providing those blessings through.
Like the son asking for something that he truly wasn’t owed, in a manner that was totally unacceptable to ask—we too are often guilty of the same.
But we can learn a great deal from the father’s response. The father gave the son what he asked for, like God allowing us to have a conscience.
We know what we should do and God knows what we should do. God hopes against hope that we will do the right thing and stay home with Him, yet we have been prone throughout the ages to ask for our inheritance and go out into the sin filled world to make it on our own.
Many are still causing Christ’s blood to pour over and over again for their folly. I pray father’s that you are bringing up your sons in a manner that will not be as costly and they understand the love that you show is truly the Love of the Father.
And he divided unto them his living.
This father divided his estate between the two brothers. Is there any problem with this?
I submit there is. Have you ever known in your family when trouble is brewing and stepped in to calm matters down or to be the voice of reason in a situation.
The older son here does nothing…
He doesn’t tell his younger brother this is not right…
He doesn’t tell his younger brother this is wrong…
He doesn’t tell his younger brother that we do not treat our parents in such a manner because it is contrary to the law of God handed down through Moses.
You see, very possibly for gain the brother stands on the side and does nothing that we as brothers and sisters through the blood of Christ are expected to do. We are to be accountability partners, yet this brother let his brother down and let his father down by doing nothing. You see both brothers in this story sin against their father.
We look and easily see the first because of his actions, yet as we are pointing at him we do not look at the four fingers pointing back at us for our failure to our brothers and sisters—Amen.
We are to care for our brothers and sisters. God calls us to Love not because we are born to love—really we are “born again” to love.
John 14:21 (KJV)
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:23 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:31 (KJV)
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
John 15:9-10 (KJV)
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. [10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:12-13 (KJV)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:17 (KJV)
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 17:26 (KJV)
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
You can see that our perfect Heavenly Father’s desire is that we love, not like the world but as He has first shown us. Fathers this is the love that you are to teach your children. This is the love that you are to show your son that he may show his wife then they may show their children and grandchildren.
We know that as the prodigal son goes off and comes into the consequences of a life spent separated from God, he recognizes that even the lowest of servants in his fathers house are doing way better than he and makes up his mind to return. The amazing things that happen are again—not the son’s making but the father’s actions.
We should love like God Our Father through all things
Luke 15:20-24
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. [22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
It is again important to look back to Ancient Near Eastern customs. Kenneth Bailey’s excellent work in “Poets and Peasants” tells us that the older distinguished men of this culture do not run, or hurry about for any reason—as the recent commercials chime “It would be undignified.” Especially to someone who has told you they wished you were dead—right. Wrong---through the eyes of God’s heart and love.
Yet we see the father in the parable as our Heavenly Father, so patiently awaiting our turning from our sins and turning to Him and asking for his return into our lives—and God PROMISES He will hear and give us comfort. Oh what a Father.
Do you lead your children and families in such a manner that they will know that they share in the compassion of God?
Are you willing to break with the rules of your community to show your love for God and Jesus Christ?
Will people see the light of Christ through you and your actions? Will this cause some to come back to the only real hope for any of us?
Here is were true repentance occurs, none of us were ever worthy to be called children of God, yet while we were yet sinners God sent His only begotten son so that all who believed on Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Oh what a father.
As you can see fathers, this Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE) manual which God has given us to reproof, for learning, and for leading our homes gives us excellent material with which to lead.
The first step however is to come and partake and to regain a right standing in his presence. You see God wants you to be right with Him today, tomorrow, and each day of your life. He sits and watches—ever searching for the wanderers to return to what they have left.
Are you seeking that place of peace?
Are you seeking that place of serenity?
Are you seeking that place of love?
Are you seeking that place of belonging?
Are you seeking that place of comfort?
God is waiting and watching, ready to dash out—caring less what the world would think for your salvation. That’s how much our heavenly father loves you, and I pray that’s how much we as fathers are called to love our children as God first loved us.
This is how others will come to see Christ in you and I. If you have and prayer needs we ask you to come forward. If you would like to get right with God or ask for forgiveness for being like the wayward sons we ask you to come and pray—God is always waiting.
Closing prayer.
