FATHERS GOOD AND BAD IN THE BIBLE
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Being a father has many grave responsibilities, and all fathers
should walk humbly and prayerfully in dealing with them.
1. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I have often been driven to my
knees by the conviction that there was no other place to
go."
2. Fathers, being the head of the family, at times will be
driven to their knees because there will be no other place
to go.
B. We can receive encouragement from the examples of fathers in
the Bible.
1. As always, we should imitate the good and shun the bad.
I. JEHONADAB - A Respected Father.
A. Jehonadab was the son of Rechab and his descendants were
known as "Rechabites."
1. Jehonadab was first mentioned in 2 Kings 10 where he joined
hands with Jehu in destroying the wicked family of Ahab. 2
Kings 10:15-16
a. He did not stand idly by, but took part in destroying
idolatry as was commanded in the Law of Moses.
b. We need more fathers who will take a definite stand
against the evils of this age. Eph. 5:11
B. Johonadab gave commands to his sons and they obeyed him, and
his commands were handed down to the next generation who did
likewise.
1. Not many fathers command and obtain such respect today.
C. Notice how the Rechabites reacted when they were offered wine
to drink by Jeremiah. Jer. 35:5-11
1. Jeremiah used the obedience of these people to reprove the
people of Judah. Jer. 35:12-14
2. God blessed the Rechabites because of their obedience. Jer.
35:18-19
3. We need more men who will stand up for their convictions.
a. We need more fathers who will command their children
to do right and whose words will be obeyed.
II. MANASSEH - A Prodigal Father.
A. Manasseh was a very wicked king. 2 Chron. 33:1-9
1. He plunged Israel deeper and deeper into sin. 2 Chron.
33:9
B. God warned Manasseh and the Israelites of grave consequences
that would come upon them because of their sins. 2 Chron. 33:10
1. They did not take heed and, thus, God fulfilled his warnings
by sending them into captivity.
C. The captivity humbled Manasseh. 2 Chron. 33:12-13
1. God was merciful in allowing him to return to his throne.
2. He made efforts to correct the wrongs he had done. 2 Cor.
33:14-16
3. Although he received mercy and forgiveness, he could not
erase the influence he had on his own son.
a. His son, Amon, followed his evil practices. 2 Chron.
33:23
b. Amon never repented of his sins, but continued in
greater evils until he was slain by his own people. 2
Chron. 33:23
D. Manasseh lived to regret his sinful ways, but he couldn't
reverse the effects of his influence.
1. Sin brings a bitter harvest, often in this life, but
especially in eternity.
a. God is not mocked; one will reap what he sows. Gal.
6:7-8
2. Often the wreck and ruin of young people can be traced to
wayward parents.
III. DAVID - A Permissive Father.
A. David had three spoiled sons: Amon, Absalom, and Adonijah.
1. Amon was the one who raped his half-sister Tamar. He was
killed by Absalom.
2. Later, Absalom thought he would be king, and tried to
overthrow David and his kingdom by force.
a. He was killed in the process.
3. Consider what was said concerning Adonijah. 1 Kings 1:5-6
a. You think he would have learned a lesson from
Absalom.
b. All three of these sons faced an early death.
B. Some fathers spoil their children by giving their children so
much that they do not learn to work or develop the initiative
to obtain things by their own efforts.
1. Our affluent society has made such giving easy.
C. It is a grave mistake for a father to give his children
everything they desire, and shield them from the hardships and
difficulties of life.
1. There can be no strength of character developed without
personal effort.
2. Spoiled young people, instead of winning life's battles,
throw up the white flag when they face life's hard
realities.
D. It is by work and sacrifice that children will succeed in life.
Lam. 3:27; Psalm 119:71
1. We, as parents, need to teach them to be responsible.
E. Consider the personal sorrow and grief to David, and his entire
family, because of three spoiled sons.
1. I heard of a situation once where the oldest daughter in a
family wanted a dresser for her room; thus, she worked at
part-time jobs and pinched pennies until she was able to buy
herself a dresser. When she bought the dresser and brought
it home, her younger sister began to whine and cry because
she didn't have a dresser like her sister. To make her
happy, her parents went and bought her a dresser like her
sister's.
2. The parents committed a grave error here. First, such was
unfair to the older girl who had to work hard to obtain a
dresser. Second, they were teaching the younger daughter
that the way you obtain things is by whining and crying.
IV. JAIRUS - A Concerned Father. Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
A. Jairus laid aside the common prejudice and pride, as was
manifested by his fellow rulers of synagogues, by taking Jesus
to his daughter.
1. He took bold and courageous action.
2. We suggest a spiritual application: The best thing any
father can do for his children is to bring Jesus to his
children.
a. To give your children a knowledge of Christ (by
teaching) is the greatest blessing you can give to them.
B. Consider 1 Kings 20:40. These words were part of a parable that
God's prophet used to teach Ahab that God was displeased with
him because he had let Benhadad, king of Syria, escape.
1. Using the words of the prophet, think how many times it
could be said that while a father "was busy here and there"
his children "were gone" and often gone beyond the point of
no return.
a. We have a shorter workweek, more holidays, and more
leisure time than any other people in the world.
b. We have more machines to do our work and more time-
saving devices but less time to spend with our families.
2. Let's take inventory.
a. What is happening to our time?
b. Is it being consumed by incidentals?
c. Do we neglect the important for the indifferent?
3. In many cases the failure of a child can be traced to the
neglect of the father.
C. The daughter of Jairus needed Christ to restore life to her
again.
1. She owed her life to the faith of a father who turned to
Christ for help.
2. Our children need Christ today.
D. Here, by an unknown author, are ten guide-lines for parents in
dealing with their children. (See chart below)
1. Remember that faith is not inherited, but is developed.
2. Teach your children to be responsible. Remember David's
failure. Adonijah had been given everything, and he thought
within himself: "I'll be king." He had no right to the
throne because he had no sanction from God.
3. Try to make faith personal. Teach and encourage your
children to study and pray on their own.
4. Stress love for souls. Read "A Tribute to Women."
5. Cultivate practical Christianity; e.g., in doing
benevolence.
6. Encourage them when they do right; discourage any
wrongdoing.
7. Be as consistent as possible in your discipline.
8. Practice forgiveness. The father should be willing to say
"I'm sorry" to his children when he has done them wrong.
9. Try to instill in them a spiritual interest; e.g., a desire
to study and to do the Lord's work.
10. Be impartial with the use of money, time, and attention
toward each child.
a. Children have a great sense of fairness.
b. Try not to show favoritism.
Concl.
A. May all of us who are parents try to do our very best in
rearing our children.
B. Remember Eph. 6:4.
Chart:
Ten guide-lines for parents in dealing with their children:
1. Remember that faith is not inherited, but is developed.
2. Teach your children to be responsible.
3. Try to make faith personal.
4. Stress love for souls.
5. Cultivate practical Christianity.
6. Encourage them when they do right; discourage any wrongdoing.
7. Be as consistent as possible in discipline.
8. Practice forgiveness.
9. Try to instill in them a spiritual interest.
10. Be impartial with the use of money, time, and attention toward
each child.