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The Characteristics Of A Good Father

"A father's holy life is a rich legacy for his sons." - C.H. Spurgeon

"The father is a debtor to his child, and owes him love, provision, and nurture. The child is a debtor to his parent, and owes him honor and obedience." - William Gurnall

"If we teach good things, it is hopeful that they will be learned. If our lives exemplify virtue, it is hopeful that they will be imitated." - Cotton Mather

"The secret of home rule is self rule, first being ourselves what we want our children to be." - Andrew Murray

"A father's holy life...."
"The father is a debtor to his child..."
"...we teach good things..."
"...our lives exemplify virtue..."
"The secret of home rule is self rule..."
These are words concerning Fatherhood.

What are your thoughts concerning this subject? What constitutes a Good Father in your estimation?

  • A Good Provider?

  • A Spiritual Leader?

  • An Easy-Going, Down-To-Earth Person?

  • A Man Of Convictions?

Let's look into the Scriptures for some characteristics for Quality Leadership. Let's compare our criteria with that of the Word of God.

1. Of Honest Report -

Acts 6:3 - "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report..."

The first characteristic of a Good Father is that he is a man of Honest Report.

Acts 10:22 - The Scriptures mention that Cornelius was "of good report."
Acts 16:2 - Timothy was "well reported by the brethren."
Acts 22:12 - Ananias was a devout man, "having a good report."
3 John 12 - Demetrius was a man who had a "good report of all men."

What does it mean to be "of honest report"?

It includes being -

  • honorable, blameless, and bearing a good and admirable character

  • virtuous, praiseworthy, free from scandal, and not under any blemish for any vice

  • a man of integrity, of a fair reputation, well spoken of, and well reported of.

1 Timothy 3:9 - A man "of honest report" will hold "the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."
Exodus 23:2 - He will not "follow a multitude to do evil."
Isaiah 33:15 - He walks righteously and speaks uprightly.

2. Full Of The Holy Ghost

Acts 6:3 - "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you...men...full of the Holy Ghost..."

The second characteristic of a Good Father is that he is "full of the Holy Ghost."
To be "full" is to be covered up in every part and to be thoroughly permeated.
To be "full of the Holy Ghost" is to be under the absolute control and influence of the Holy Spirit.

  • Galatians 5:16 - It is to "Walk in the Spirit, and...not fulfill the lust of the flesh,"

  • Galatians 5:25-26 - to "live in the Spirit" and "not be desirous of vain glory,"

  • Romans 8:13 - to "mortify the deeds of the body" "through the Sprit,"

  • Romans 8:14 - to be "led by the Spirit of God,"

  • Romans 8:26 - to allow the Spirit to make "intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered,"

  • Romans 8:6 - to be "spiritually minded,"

  • Ephesians 5:19-20 - to make melody in our hearts to the Lord, "giving thanks always for all things unto God..."

  • Ephesians 5:21 - Lastly, it is to submit to others in the fear of God.

3. Full Of Wisdom

Acts 6:3 - "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you...men...full of...wisdom..."

The third characteristic of a Good Father is that he is a man "full of wisdom."

► He is a one who is full of prudence, discretion, and skill.
► He knows how to manage his affairs wisely.
► He orders his events with the best interests of others in mind.
► He is discreet and wise hearted.

  • Proverbs 28:16 - Since the Lord has filled his heart with wisdom and understanding, he is not an oppressor as one who lacks understanding can be.

  • Ephesians 5:15 - He walks "circumspectly(carefully), not as fools, but as wise."

  • Ephesians 5:16 - He redeems the time, "because the days are evil."

  • Ephesians 5:17 - He is "not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

  • Colossians 3:16 - He lets the Word of Christ dwell in him richly in all wisdom.

  • Colossians 1:28 - He preaches, warns, and teaches every man in all wisdom that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

4. An Able Man

Exodus 18:21 - "...provide out of all the people able men..."

The fourth characteristic of a Good Father is that he is an "able man."

  • Ephesians 6:10 - He is "strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

  • Philippians 4:13 - He shows forth an ability, might, and efficiency to do all things through Christ who gives him his strength.

  • Romans 8:37 - In all things, he is more than a conqueror through the Lord Jesus Who loves him.

  • Romans 8:31 - God is for him; therefore, no one or nothing can be against him.

  • Luke 10:19 - He knows who he is in Christ. He knows that he has power over all the power of the enemy.

  • Mark 11:22 - He has "Faith in God."

  • Mark 11:23 - He speaks to the mountains in his life, and they are removed and cast into the sea.

5. Fears God

Exodus 18:21 - "...provide out of all the people...such as fear God..."

The fifth characteristic of a Good Father is that he fears God.

  • 2 Samuel 23:3 - He rules his household in the fear of God. He believes there is a God above him Whose eye is upon him and to Whom he is accountable.

  • Psalm 119:120 - His flesh trembles for fear of God, and he is afraid of His judgments.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13 - He keeps God's commandments.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:14 - He realizes that He will "bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

  • Psalm 1:1 - He doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.

  • Psalm 119:1,3 - He walks in the law of God and does not Sin.

6. A Man Of Truth

Exodus 18:21 - "...provide out of all the people...men of truth..."

The sixth characteristic of a Good Father is that he is a "man of truth."
He is reliable, trustworthy, honest, and true.
He seeks the Truth in all his matters.
He pleads for the Truth.

  • Exodus 23:7 - He keeps himself far from false matters.

  • Psalm 119:163 - He hates and abhors lying, but he loves God's law.

  • Isaiah 5:20 - He doesn't "call evil good, and good evil." He doesn't "put darkness for light, and light for darkness..."

  • John 3:21 - He does the Truth,

  • John 3:21 - coming to the mirror of God's Word "that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God."

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2 - He has "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully..."

7. Hates Covetousness

Exodus 18:21 - "...provide out of all the people...such as...hating covetousness..."

The seventh and final characteristic of a Good Father is that he hates covetousness.

► He does all that he does for the Glory of God and out of love for his fellow man.
► He labors to promote the good of others.
► He isn't interested in enriching himself.
► He isn't selfish.

  • Hebrews 13:5 - He is content with what he has. He doesn't covet that which is his neighbor's.

  • Romans 13:10 - He works no ill to his neighbor.

  • 1 Timothy 6:10 - He doesn't love money. Rather, he loves God and his neighbor as himself.

  • 1 Timothy 3:3 - He is "not greedy of filthy lucre."

  • Isaiah 33:15 - Lastly, he "shutteth his eyes from seeing evil"

  • Matthew 6:21 - lest his heart be inclined to the wrong treasure.

A Father's Holy Life will include the following -

He will -

  • be of honest report

  • be full of the Holy Ghost

  • be full of wisdom

  • be an able man

  • fear God

  • be a man of truth

  • hate covetousness.

Is this the kind of legacy that you are leaving your children?

May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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