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.