Last Father’s Day, Wallace was on the way. Now, he’s already eleven months old, and we have no idea how the time flew by.

While today he’s crawling and pulling himself up, tomorrow he’ll be walking. In each moment, a character is being forged that will last into eternity.

If you’re a parent, you understand completely, probably better than I do. Do you ever wonder how your children grew so quickly?

Today, I’ll share with you three truths I’ve discovered since becoming a dad.

Our Sons Follow Our Example More Than Our Words

Though he’s only 11 months old, Wallace admires me greatly. Upon hearing my four wheeler come in the driveway from a busy day on the farm, he excitedly crawls up to the window.

If I’m playing guitar, Wallace wants to strum it. He thinks my books and tools are more exciting than his toys.

His admiration challenges me to become the man God designed me to be.

Like Wallace, every son wants to be like his dad. Therefore, every dad must teach through intentional words and example.

Proverbs 23:26 says, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” How can we fathers expect our sons to give us their hearts and to follow our instructions if we’re not modeling a life worth living?

Ask yourself, “Would I be satisfied if my son lived the life I’m living?”

Our Most Important Work Is Our Children

Have we placed more emphasis on preparing our children for high paying jobs rather than preparing them to love and serve Christ? To quote Phil Downer, “When we devote all our time and attention to our jobs, we are worshipping the work of our hands.”

By God’s standard, a good Dad does more than bring home the bacon; he spiritually leads his family. He also imparts wisdom and the fear of God to his sons, because he understands that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7).

In the words of Matthew Henry, “Fathers… must go before their households in the things of God. They must be as prophets, priests, and kings in their own families; and, as such, they must keep up family doctrine, family worship, and family discipline.”

As George Swinnock observed, “Men are careful to educate their children in the favor of great men, but, alas! who brings up his children in the fear of the great God!”

At the end of life, God will not ask us, “Did your children all land prestigious careers, own luxurious homes, and get a good education?” God will ask us, “Did you teach your children to love and fear me above all else?”

The most important thing we as fathers can do is to prepare our children to love God and live in obedience to Him. This is our greatest responsibility on earth. If we do not, who will?

The Heavenly Father Has Given Us All We Need

I thought I knew a lot about fatherhood, until I became I dad. On July 16, 2018, as I cradled my newborn son in my arms, I realized two things. First, God has entrusted me with this little life. Second, my Heavenly Father loves me far more than I could ever love Wallace. Because He loves me, He has given me all I need.

All fathers should take comfort in these words of Christ,

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7-11).

Will we humbly ask our Heavenly Father to give us wisdom, courage, and strength to raise our children? How could we expect expect to do it on our own?

What Goal Are You Shooting For?

One of my Dad’s favorite verses, Ecclesiastes 12:13, says “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 notes, “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

We must aim to teach our children to love and fear God and to teach their children to do the same.

My Dad has told me that he hopes his children do more for Christ than he ever could. By God’s grace, he built upon what his father gave him. By God’s grace, I must do the same.

Soon, our children will be grown. Every day, may remember that we’re raising tomorrow’s fore-father’s.

Question: What is the purpose of fatherhood?

Recommended resources

Life Lessons From My Father [Blog Post]

A Father’s Reward by Phil Downer [Book]

The Intentional Legacy by David McAlvany [Book]