June 13, 2018 - I can hardly remember not being a dad. I have been one now for almost 40 years to five beautiful daughters. I have to admit it has been a challenge at times but has never been a job that I have taken for granted. It requires lots of patience, time and mostly love. I would like to share with you today the responsibilities I have learned over the years from men in my life who were great fathers. Maybe this will help you as it has me, to be a better father.
Fathers have three main responsibilities.
1. You are the protector of your family. It is your responsibility to provide your wife and children with security. They should always know that you have their back. When asked in a survey of women, "what is the most important need you would like from your husband," the number one answer was security. Your wife and children should always feel safer when you are around, and you should always be around. You are to protect them people who want to harm them, protect them from an unhealthy home environment, protect them from unhealthy ideologies, protect their future by teaching them how to be self sufficient. Be the man who stands in the gap for them. Our family should be able to echo what the psalmist said in Psalms 4:8, "I will both lie down in peace and sleep; For you alone make me dwell in safety."
2. You are the Provider for your family. God calls on all fathers to be providers. We are to provide for all the needs of our families. We live in a day where mothers and wives are doing a lot of the providing for families but ultimately if you are a father and husband it is your responsibility to provide for those whom you have been entrusted by God. He give a very harsh warning about this in 1 Timothy 5:8, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This goes to the old saying any male can produce a child but only a real man can be a true father to a child. What do you provide? Food, Shelter, security, finances, time. Do not neglect your responsibilities as a father. Provide for all your children. Even those who may not live with you. If you are a man and you have fathered a child and are not taking care of it the bible says that you are "worse than an unbeliever." Man up, and become responsible for your actions.
3. You are the Priest of your home. Contrary to popular church culture of the day, it is not moms responsibility to make sure that the kids are grounded in the Word of God, it's the fathers who have been given this charge. Deuteronomy 6:4-7, "The Lord our God is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Men do be afraid to talk to your children about the Lord. It is your responsibility. Model your life after Christ as much as possible and be the loving, caring, father to your children that Christ has been to you.
When we truly understand our God ordained roles as fathers and husbands, our families can live in a home that is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Isn't that what we all pray for ?
I'm just saying,
Mike Belgard
