Here's Some Fatherly Advice By Samuel E. Ward Introduction The Top Ten Reasons Why Men Love Being Men 1. We can open our own jars. 2. The same hair-style lasts for years -- maybe decades. 3. Underwear is $10 a three-pack. 4. Car mechanics tell us the truth. 5. Gray hair and wrinkles add character. 6. If another guy shows up at a party in the same outfit, you just might become lifelong friends. 7. We are totally unable to see wrinkles in our clothes. 8. One wallet, one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons. 9. We can do our nails with pocketknife. 10. Christmas shopping can be accomplished for 25 people on the day before Christmas and in 5 minutes. --Eric Ferguson, Youth Minister of a church in Oklahoma City Did you ever notice in the TV family "The Waltons" how the father was always available; or in "Little House on The Prairie," how Laura's dad was always there for the tight squeezes? Contrast these situations with the modern dad who is gone from morning to night. Things have certainly changed since the 1930s and the earlier house on the prairie days, maybe too much. Years ago, Dr. Charlie Shedd held a contest called "One Neat Dad." He asked contestants to send in letters recommending their dad for this great honor. Here's a list of the ten most appreciated qualities for "One Neat Dad." 1. He takes time for me. 2. He listens to me. 3. He plays with me. 4. He invites me to go places with him. 5. He lets me help him. 6. He treats my mother well. 7. He lets me say what I think. 8. He is nice to my friends. 9. He only punishes me when I deserve it. 10. He is not afraid to admit when he is wrong. Qualities one to five are versions of the single word, "time!" Spell it—listen, spell it—play, spell it—help me, spell it—jump in the pickup … it all comes out in the same four letters, T-I-M-E. Time was the most appreciated trait of "One Neat Dad"! --A Treasury of Bible Illustrations Although the passage we are studying this Fathers Day is addressed to a son from his father, we can rest assured that mothers had counsel they passed on to their daughters! Many of the depictions of what it was like to be a woman in the Old Testament are within the context of a culture that was dependent upon men that required their strength to protect and provide for their families. We have Proverbs 31 to counterbalance what many see in Scripture as an undervalued role for women. This is a topic that deserves discussion in more detail but must be reserved for a different study. To arrive at the qualities of the type of woman described in Proverbs 31 (noble character, confidence from her family, discerner of quality in material goods, skillful artisan, industrious, attentive to family needs, astute in business, generous toward the needy, exudes strength and dignity, prepared for the unexpected, wise in her speech and instruction, respected by her husband and children, and worthy of reward) she had to have been taught well. This instruction came most likely from her parents (especially her mother) and included the necessity of learning to fear the Lord. I have my opinions as to why instructions to young men are so spelled out in Scripture and all but absent for women. I will save these for a later study, however, and ask that the fatherly advice I share with you from Proverbs 3 be applied to all of your children without regard to gender. Here's Some Fatherly Advice Proverbs 3
I. Commands with Promises A. Never Forget My Teaching, Prov 3:1-2. (1) My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, (2) for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Command: Do not forget my teaching and keep my commands in your heart. Promise: They will prolong your life and bring prosperity. B. Always Love and Be Faithful in Your Dealings with God and Men, Prov 3:3-4. (3) Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Command: Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Promise: You will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. C. Lean on God and Listen to Him, Prov 3:5-6. (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Command: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Promise: He will make your paths straight. D. Trust in God's Wisdom, Fear Him, and Shun Evil, Prov 3:7-8. (7) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (8) This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Command: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Promise: This will bring health and nourishment to your body. E. Honor God with Your Wealth, Prov 3:9-10. (9) Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; (10) then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Command: Honor the LORD first with gifts from your wealth. Promise: You will always have abundance. F. Accept God's Discipline with a Right Attitude, Prov 3:11-12. (11) My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, (12) because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Command: Do not resist or resent the LORD's discipline. Promise: You will live in the loving care of your Heavenly Father. II. Blessings of Wisdom, Prov 3:13-26 (13) Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, A. God's Wisdom Provides Quality of Life over Quantity of Riches,
Prov 3:14-18. (14) for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (16) Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (17) Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. (18) She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. B. God's Wisdom Guided His Hand in Creation, Prov 3:19-20. (19) By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; (20) by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. C. God's Wisdom Is To Be Kept Close as a Necklace Around Your Neck, Prov 3:21-26. (21) My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; (22) they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 1. The practice of God's wisdom will keep you safe as you travel through life, Prov 3:23. (23) Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 2. The practice of God's wisdom will keep you from becoming afraid and provide sweet sleep, Prov 3:24. (24) when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 3. The practice of God's wisdom will keep you from having to fear what the wicked fear. (25) Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, (26) for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. III. Treatment of Others, Prov 3:27-35 A. Be Always Ready to Help Those Who Deserve It, Prov 3:27-28. (27) Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (28) Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—when you now have it with you. B. Be Fair and Act Honorable Toward Your Neighbor, Prov 3:29-30. (29) Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. (30) Do not accuse a man for no reason—when he has done you no harm. IV. Warnings Against Accepting the Wicked Practices of Evil People,
Prov 3:31-35 A. Do Not Follow the Example of a Violent Person, Prov 3:31. (31) Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, B. Do Not Follow the Example of a Perverse Person, Prov 3:32. (32) for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. V. Contrasts of Divine Attitudes Toward the Wicked and the Righteous,
Prov 3:33-35 A. (33) The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. B. (34) [The LORD] mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. C. (35) The wise inherit honor, but fools [the LORD] holds up to shame. Application What we have observed is this passage is essentially a curriculum for spiritual growth. The counsel provided begins with a list of learning outcomes that are conditional upon following certain principles. A. Generally speaking, if the child has applied his lessons to his/her life experience, he/she can expect to have 1. a long and prosperous life, 2. favor from God and men, 3. a straight course to God's will for his/her life, 4. physical health, profitable labor, 5. and loving guidance from the Heavenly Father. B. The main condition inherent in attaining these outcomes is the seeking, finding, and application of God's wisdom. One the areas of application of this wisdom is in the area of relationships, how we treat others. We must be ready to help those who deserve our aid and act fair and honorably toward all. C. The level of our spiritual growth and success is dependent upon the intensity of our desire to seek righteousness and avoid evil. We must be careful not to envy men or their practices but come to hate their perverse ways as God does. If we do, we have the promise from God to be given truth and insight that only the righteous can appreciate and use. D. Finally, let us be aware that God blesses the homes of the righteous, gives grace to those who give Him proper respect, His humble children, and brings honor to the godly wise. _______________________________________________________________ | 
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