Dads (video)

What do you think of this?

You go first.

(h-t Seth McBee)

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UPDATE: I said I'd offer my thoughts after around 20 responses, which we've now had. So, as predicted, here's my contrarian response:

First, I think all the commenters make good points. I basically agree with everyone.

Second, insofar as the point of the video is that fathers are important in their children's lives, that we must be involved in small as well as large ways, that we must ALWAYS keep in mind that those little eyes are watching us, and that our example speaks loud and clear — good point, and well-made.

But:

Third, my problem is with the constant use of the future tense, indicative mood. IF a father does A, then B WILL result.

It's the same point I argued at great length awhile back.

IF IT WERE TRUE that a son would automatically accept and embrace all the good things a good father taught and modeled, THEN there would be no point to verses such as these:

Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.

Proverbs 5:7 And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

Proverbs 26:26 My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;
an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the traitors among mankind.

I could go on and on, and on and on.

The point: if it were an automatic thing that —

Good father
+Good teaching
+Good example
___________

Godly, wise son

...then why would the son be told, again and again, that he must accept his father's instruction, that he must take it to heart, that he must remember it, that he must not stray from it — that he's in danger of wrong women and ruin if he does not?

So yes, if your life is the foolish life of the hypocrite, you certainly don't love God, and you certainly don't love your son, and you certainly shouldn't congratulate yourself on what a fine example of manhood you are.

But equally: a man can be a godly example, and teach God's word, and still have a son who turns himself into a fool.

And those are my thoughts on that.