Friday, June 15, 2007

The perfect gift for Father's Day

What does any Christian father most want for Father's Day?
The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
(Proverbs 10:1)

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
(Proverbs 15:20)

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
26My 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.
(Proverbs 23:24-28)

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
that I may answer him who reproaches me.
(Proverbs 27:11)

He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
(Proverbs 29:3)

...my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
(Galatians 4:19)

...And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:5-11)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
(3 John 1:4)
See also:
Why God gave you parents, etc.
A word to Christian yoots

3 comments:

Neil said...

Nice.

DJP said...

Wow. This was a 'way quieter comment thread than I anticipated. (What does "nice" even mean, anymore?)

Does it seem to anyone else that, while Mother's Day is (deservedly) treated like a big deal, Father's Day is sort of nothing, to many people? I don't even think my church wished a happy FD (until some renegade guest preacher did it in the evening service).

Neil said...

"Nice" means this was a really good read, and that it exactly captures the joy of raising children who turn out wise.