Monday Men part 3: Lead Your Kids by Taking the Reins
It is Monday so here is a short post for the men. Leading as a Father.
The husband is the parent who is ultimately responsible for leading his children. I admit that when my wife and I first had a child, I let her do the child rearing, after all it is her job to be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. Isn’t it? Sadly, too many Christian men have actually taken this viewpoint to heart as biblical truth and have handed over the responsibility of raising the kids to their wives. They mistakenly believe that the mother is the one who is mainly responsible for raising the kids. I am a guy who actually took this stance once upon a time, and I admit that it was mostly out of sheer selfishness that I took this position. It was easier for me to just say, “You are the mother/wife/woman…you do it,” rather than take the reins and lead my children (and my wife) in the love and fear of the Lord. So let me just say it as I hate beating around the bush and it is getting late . Men, it is your responsibility. YOU, fathers, it is YOUR duty to read the Bible to your kids, not the teachers or your wife’s duty. It is YOUR duty to pray with and for your kids, not your wife’s! It is YOUR duty to discipline, admonish and encourage your kids. IT is YOUR duty to mould, shape and raise your kids in love and the fear of the Lord. It is YOUR duty to be the head of your home. It is not your wife who is to lead your children. Your wife is not the spiritual head of the home, or at least she shouldn’t be. But where the man fails in this regard, the woman will take the reins, and this is not God’s plan. It is YOUR responsibility, and mine…and all men. “Wait, wait…But wait! I am at work, my wife does raise the kids, she sees them more than I do!”…Take a look at Scripture. Have you ever noticed that the Bible’s direction to raise godly children is directed at the father and not the mother? Dad, you are chiefly accountable for how your children are raised. Sure, you will delegate this responsibility to teachers, mothers and others, but it is ultimately your job, your duty, your responsibility. You are the spiritual head of your kids. So how have you been doing in this aspect of your Christian walk?
Let me clarify here… this does not excuse the mothers from raising their children or being involved with their discipline, training etc. it simply shows that it is ultimately the father who will be held accountable before God to ensure that the children are raised according to the Lord’s decrees .
Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Men,we must take the lead from our wives in this regard. We are to bear the responsibility in teaching and training our kids. Yes your spouse will be involved in the training and discipline but it is your duty to ensure that your kids are raised in love and in the fear of the lord.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Here is an acoustic version of Lead Me by Sanctus Real. I pray something similar…“Father lead me to lead them…” Enjoy.
