Sunday Seed Thoughts: Happy Father’s Day

A small boy was overheard to say, “Father’s day is just like Mother’s Day…only you don’t spend as much on a gift.“

To which one dad quipped, “What gift?”

Now this is not “sour grapes.” Father’s Day is just not as big a deal as Mother’s Day. Church attendance is greater on Mother’s day than Father’s Day. Before the days of cell phones it was documented that more long distance calls were made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. But more collect calls were made on Father’s day than any other day of the year!

Today the image of dads has fallen into disrepute. With so many absentee, delinquent, and abusive fathers, our respect for fatherhood has diminished. Also the media and silly sitcoms tend to portray dad as a bumbling idiot.

When I was a kid in the late 50’s and early 60’s, Robert Young played the lead role on ““Father Knows Best” on TV. He was the ideal father. He spoke with great wisdom and had the solution to every problem.

More importantly, the Bible honors fatherhood, elevates the man’s role as the head of the home, and describes the ideal father. A spiritual leader. A provider. A lover of his wife. A teacher of his children. An imparter of wisdom. A good and godly influencer. And a disciplinarian.

The Christian father is also depicted as a man who is kind, compassionate and caring. Possesses integrity. Delights in his children. Rejoices in their accomplishments. And sees his kids as a precious gift from God.

The truly Christian father seeks to embody, emulate, and express the Fatherhood of God, as much as humanly possible.

Thank God for the many fine fathers we have today. Yes, I know we have our faults. But I see a lot of men who take fatherhood seriously. Who are working hard to be the best Dad they can be. We also have Dads who are struggling and need our encouragement.

On this Father’s Day let’s recognize faithful fathers. Encourage them. Honor them. And love them.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman