Father’s Day can be a difficult time for some. It’s hard to give a place of honor to someone who has been absent or uninterested in your life. That is the sad truth about many homes today who have no father involved. According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 40% of school-age kids live in homes absent of their biological fathers. For those fathers that are physically present, many are emotionally absent and some are abusive. Memories of your home life may include a mixed bag of emotions regarding your father.
Yet the Bible tells us that fathers have an important role in the family unit and in raising children. Many times the father’s actions and attitudes are used as illustrations to help us understand some facet about God our Heavenly Father. He is to be a “figure” from which his family can learn about God. The father figure in the home has an important job in representing and modeling God the heavenly father to his wife and children. This starts with being present both physically and emotionally. While there are dozens of ways this can be modeled, let’s look at just a few that Paul brings out in 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
The father figure COACHES – some versions use the word “exhort” or “encourage”, but the word comes from the same root that we have for the Holy Spirit – “paraclete”. As a believer, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you, to be always with you, and to instruct you in the ways of the Lord. In the same way, the father figure who coaches their children are to be always present and available, right next to you, and always giving you instruction for life. The word carries with it the idea of being a trusted advisor or confidant that will always give you good advice.
The father figure COMFORTS – we often see this as the role of the mother, but this passage reminds us that it is a key job for fathers as well. The word means “to speak to, address, to calm and console”. When you are having a bad day or you’ve done the wrong thing or you are dealing with any kind of trouble, you should be able to go to your Dad for comfort and a word of encouragement. God wants you to come to Him with every trial and trouble. He wants you to cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). In the same way, the father figure in the home should be a source of consolation in times of need.
The father figure CERTIFIES – again, other words have been used here such as “charge, urge or implore”. These are all helpful in understanding the meaning, but the word itself comes from the same root as “martyr”. It meant to identify a word of witness that is urgent, steadfast and true. The father figure is a living witness who affirms that God’s truth is the only thing worth dying for. This means that they sometimes have to “put their foot down” and speak truth into the lives of their children. It means that they may need to make sacrifices for the sake of truth. All that they do and say should be centered around God and urges others to live in the same manner.
What is the objective of this father figure in the household?... that his children “would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” God placed fathers in our homes for a purpose. Men are to be father “figures” – small, imperfect models used to represent the different facets of God the Heavenly Father to our families. You may not have had a perfect father figure in your home growing up (even if you had a father who knew the Lord), but you have a God who will help you to fulfill this role. And even if your earthly father has been out of your life for a long time, don’t despair. You have a God who is greater than any earthly father and He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.