Father's Job

Sunday is Father’s Day! It doesn’t seem to get the attention that Mother’s Day does, except for the advertisements to buy all that stuff for Dad. And that’s not for father’s, that’s for sales! Okay, I know moms deserve a special day more than dads do, so I will not go too far down that road. However, when it comes to the Bible there are some pretty strong things said to fathers about their responsibilities in the family and in raising children. One of the most interesting is in Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (NIV)

Now we have it right here in this passage that both moms and dads deserve to have a special day, “Honor your father and mother.” Actually this is quoted from the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16) and when researched with other Scripture it is clear that the intention of “honor” carries far more responsibility than having a special day. It includes showing respect, obeying, and even caring for them. So children have some major responsibilities in this simple passage. But it also comes with a blessing!

But look at the responsibility given to dad in this passage. They are responsible for bringing their children “up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” But what does that mean? And notice they are not to “exasperate” their children. What does that mean? Since it seems to stand in contrast to the “bringing the children up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” not fulfilling this responsibility must in some way “exasperate” their children, but how? What is it about not being the father that one should be, including helping children grow spiritually, that causes one’s children to be exasperated, or infuriated, maddened, frustrated, and annoyed? And would this passage be saying that there is a possibility that if my children seem to regularly be angry with me that it may be my fault because as a father I am not fulfilling my responsibility to them to assist them in their spiritual maturation by training and instructing them in the ways of the Lord?