The Most Important Role A Man Will Play In His Lifetime

January 20

"And you, fathers,
do not provoke your children to wrath,
but bring them up in the training
and admonition of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4

Many fathers don't understand the seriousness of their role as father. It cannot be exaggerated, being a father is one of the most important roles a man will play in his lifetime. That role is the most crucial element in the development of a child.

"...the glory of children is their father."
Proverbs 17:6

Read that again and again until you realize just what the father is to the child.

Fathers, one of the worst sins you can commit is to destroy your child either by bad example, by devastating criticism, or by neglect. Whatever you tell your child about himself/herself, that is what he will believe and that is what he will become. If you tell him that he is worthless, that will be what he thinks of himself and that is what he will become. If you rail at him in anger and call him names, he will think you are right of course, and that will be what forms his personality.

Do not withhold discipline, but let the child know that it is coming from your love for him. Tell him, "I love you too much to let you behave this way," and then he will know that discipline comes from your love for him and he will receive it in the way it was meant to be.

Fathers, do not provoke your child until all he feels is anger and hatred. Bring him up in the loving training and admonition of the Lord. If you have great respect for God, your child will too, and that's the single most important thing you can do for him, for it is through your eyes that he will know God.