Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke

As Father’s Day approaches it is important that we turn our hearts and minds to examine proper behavior for fathers.

Many families are hurting and often divided because men did not follow God’s rules for Fatherhood. Who better to give instruction than our heavenly Father, Creator of all. Paul reminds us of God’s expectations for fathers in Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

The first command tells men not to “provoke” their children.

This means to stir up your children’s anger with things like over-critical words, inconsistent rules or demands, favoritism and hypocrisy. Things actions will discourage, confuse and anger children.

Fathers should strive to provide discipline and instruction that will nurture a love for the Lord. Parental teaching and life-style must involve an upbringing that includes recognizing and honoring God as our loving Father. This should result in the youth integrating faith into their daily lives and becoming willing servants of our Savior.

Perhaps the clearest and most direct command from God to man concerning our homes is this: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).

A guy simply cannot be a good father if he doesn’t love his wife. His treatment of his wife is observed by the children in the home and is often replayed over and over in the lives of those young people when they become adults. Men whose fathers were abusers often become abusers themselves, whether the victims are women or children. This is a Satanic attack on our homes so no wonder that young people today seem so violent, unhappy, suicidal and rebellious. Look at their backgrounds and often you find the failure of a father.

Don’t be that guy. Love your family and be willing to give all for them, as Christ did for us.

Happy Father’s Day!