WHAT KIND OF FATHER SHOULD I BE?
Luke 15:11-32
TEXT: 11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then 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 gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here 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. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
PROPOSITION: To instruct the father’s concerning their relationship with their children.
INTRODUCTION:
I. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER THAT PROVIDES FOR HIS CHILDREN v.11,12
11 Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
Application: One of the obligations of fatherhood is to provide for your children. You have the responsibility before God to ensure that your children have food, clothing, and the necessities of life. (This responsibility isn’t dependent upon whether or not you are in a relationship with your children’s mother.)
II. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER THAT ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO GROW UP AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES v.13
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
Application: There comes a time in every person’s life when he/she has to leave the security of home and venture out to explore the world on one’s own. Our duty, as parents, is to train our children in preparation for when that day arrives – and thusly prepare them for life on their own.
Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
III. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER THAT ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR DECISION MAKING v.14-16
14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then 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 gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
Application: Please notice that the father in this story doesn’t intervene in the natural consequences of his son’s behavior. If that son had not experienced the consequences of his decision making he would not have been motivated to make better decisions.
IV. I SHOULD BE THE SORT OF FATHER THAT MY CHILDREN CAN FEEL FREE TO COME TO – NO MATTER HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES OR ABOUT THE DECISIONS THEY HAVE MADE
v.17-20, 28-30
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father.
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
V. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER WHO WILLINGLY AND LOVINGLY FORGIVES HIS CHILDREN’S FAILURES v.20
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Psalm 103:10-14a,17 (NLT) He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve. 11For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14For he understands how weak we are; … 17But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
VI. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER WHO ENDEAVORS TO SEE THE POSSIBILITIES IN HIS CHILDREN’S LIVES v.21-24
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here 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.
Application: The robe and the ring were status symbols. The robe represented the family crest, the ring represented the family name. The shoes were worn by owners not the servants. This father believed that, although his son had made some huge mistakes, his son would succeed and bring credit upon the family. The robe, ring, and sandals were the father’s way of saying that his son was restored as though he had done nothing wrong.
VII. I SHOULD BE THE KIND OF FATHER WHO NEVER GIVES UP HOPE v.31,32
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
Application: God is the sort of Father who never gives up hope. He is ever looking, ever waiting, ever wanting for His children to return home. Even to the very last chapter of the Bible, God’s optimism toward us is found:
Revelation 22:17 (NKJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
CONCLUSION:
