One of the shows I remember watching years ago was “Everybody Loves Raymond”. It was fun, lighthearted, and usually had a decent point behind it.
However, one of the things that always bothered me was the fact the Raymond (the star of the show and father of the family) was always playing the role of the pushover husband and dad. And while his lack of any real leadership added to the show’s hilarious nature, it was at the same time a poor portrayal of what a godly father should look like in the home.
Let’s face it—sitcom dads are a joke. If you listen to what the world portrays dads as being, you’ve got a bunch of weak, lazy, jelly-spined guys who don’t know how to do much other than what they’re told by their wives and pushed around by their children to do. Any form of true, biblical, loving masculinity and leadership in the home is missing.
This may make for humorous sitcoms, but it has irreversible consequences for families in real life.
Are you a ‘picture perfect’ father?…
But that’s not the picture portrayed for us in the Scriptures of what a father is meant to be. God’s desire for you as a father is that you be purposeful, present, and passionate about raising your family and leaving a lasting legacy that far outlives you and your life.
Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.”
However, many kids (and adults) in our society today have what is called a “father wound”. That is, a pain from their past that was caused by their parents. And often, specifically by their fathers.
This is common among most people whether they realize it or not. And the negative affects of a father wound can be far reaching. A father wound can be attributed to a number of different things:
- abandonment
- a lack of physical affection
- failure to be present
- physical or verbal abuse
- failure to love
- being too harsh or too lenient
Whatever it is, it not only has an effect on our relationship with our father, but upon our perception of God as our Heavenly Father as well. Because a child’s view of who God is will be directly related to what they see in their father.
If a dad is harsh, abusive, or seldom present in a child’s life, they will view God as the same type of Father. However, if a dad is loving, affectionate, and kind, they will have a more proper perspective of who their Heavenly Father is from having seen Him through you, their earthly father.
“Children who fail to see God’s love through their father often fail to see a loving father through God.”
So the answer to the first question—“Are you a ‘picture perfect’ father?” would have to be a no for all of us dads. We all fall short of perfection for our kids. But here’s a better question to ask.
Are you a picture of the perfect Father?…
As dads, our calling to love our children is one of the greatest responsibilities ever given, because God created them to see who He is through who we are.
This is one of the most far reaching and consequential responsibilities for it’s immediate and longterm multi-generational affects.
Thankfully, we don’t have to be a perfect picture of the Father, just a picture of the perfect Father. We don’t have to get it all right, but we must be following the one who does.
In today’s world, we are facing an epidemic of fatherlessness, and it’s having an effect upon our nations’ women and children, homes and schools. God never intended for fathers to be absent or apathetic, and the consequences when they are can be far reaching.
So today, I want to simply remind you of this – Dads, YOU MATTER!
And don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Your family is counting on you to lead spiritually, to love unconditionally, and to provide the affection, guidance, and presence that they crave.
While the world portrays dads as everything they were never meant to be for entertainment, may our families reflect something far different—men who are hard-working and sacrificial, yet present and engaged. And men who are unapologetically manly, leaders, and responsible for both the physical and spiritual well-being of their families.
A good father is one of the most unsung, upraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society – Billy Graham
