Now the days of David
drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: "I
go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.
And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His
statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is
written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and
wherever you turn; that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning
me, saying, 'If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth
with all their heart and with all their soul,' He said, 'you shall not lack a
man on the throne of Israel.'” 1 Kings
2:1-4
This
Sunday is Father’s Day and in honor of fathers, we are focusing on David’s last
words to his son spoken upon his deathbed.
David had not lived a stellar life, and he certainly had not been a
shining example to his children of what an obedient Christian father looked
like. In spite of his mistakes, David
still had some important words of wisdom to shared.
What is required of a man to
be a good father?
From
David’s last words we learn what is required of a man to be a good father;
the first four are Presence, Purpose, Probity, and Passion. Other traits required to be a good father
are:
Patience - We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the
fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
- The development of character
and strength takes time.
- The one who understands weakness will help others overcome.
- Criticism is not equipping. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up
in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
- If a man is going to be effective in raising a son there must be
more encouragement and praise than criticism and condemnation. It takes someone who is committed to
make the impact that is required.
Persistence
and Perseverance - Now may the God who gives
perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one
another according to Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5
- This is the quality of faithfulness
that separates men in fatherhood.
- Too many children have had their parents give up on them just when
they needed them most.
- A good father knows he may have to step back to let consequence
teach a lesson but he never steps out of their life.
Prayer - The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:6b
- Simply put, a father must go to the
Father to learn to father.
- It is through the eyes of God that a man truly sees the needs and
potential of his children.
- All of the qualities outlined above are impossible to maintain
apart from the power of prayer.
Basically, as a
father, you must draw A Line in the Sand
– "If it is
disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom
you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
This is a Personal Choice – You must make this YOUR CHOICE!
This is a Serious Choice – You must realize the importance of this choice!
This is a Constant Choice – You must make this choice new every day.
This is an Urgent Choice – Make
the change now! It is not too late to change but do it now so that no more
time is wasted. No matter what, you can
still make a difference.
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11
