The second responsibility of a dad is to realize that he is the one who is to guide the discipline in the home. Too many are known *as the orge, al ways raining down judgment upon others. Scripturally speaking, as far as discipline is concerned, there is a vast area to consider. The unfailing and unerring Word of God, is man’s only perfect and infallible guide for life. It gives to us as fathers, every thing we need for this vital dimension of fulfilling our sacred privilege and responsibility. Herein we see the posi tive assertion that the father has the greatest opportunity f o r character molding. If he doesn’t do it, sad re sults will follow. As far as the actual administering of correction, this is not to say that it is to be the father’s exclusive pre rogative and requirement. Both par ents are to share together. It is wrong for the mother to warn the children with a reproach similar to, “You’d better straighten up or when Daddy comes home he’ll give you a spank ing.” If there is some need for chas tisement, unless it is a major issue, it should be taken care of right at the moment. The Bibles warns fathers, “Provoke not your children, to wrath.” If ever there was a needed word during these hurried and harried days it is this. Why is it that as fathers, regardless of where we work, office, shop, field, or wherever, we can go out of our way to be nice to others, but when we are at home we act like a bear with a sore paw? Some men find it very easy to be kind and gentle in the office, espe cially to those of the opposite sex, but then, with his family the same men can hardly be civil. How many sons and daughters have turned against their parents because they have only seen wrath and not love. Too often, as far as discipline is concerned, we never stop to realize the importance or to grasp the full impact of what God has called us to do. As a result, there is either too much dis cipline or else not enough. This is what can cause a son or a daughter to grow up not only hating his or her 17
most overlooked verses in the Bible, and one which should be memorized and practiced by every dad, every day of his life, is I Timothy 5 :8. Here we read, “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.” Those are very sobering and forceful words. But let not that man who regularly brings home his pay check think he has escaped the challenge of Holy Writ. The Bible is talking about far more than just providing your family with bread and butter and the other staples of household diet. This pas sage means a great deal more than merely seeing that their clothing needs are met and that there is a shelter over their heads. The real ref erence has to do with providing them yourself! Too many of us have lost sight of this important fact, even at times becoming defensive of our posi tion. There are too many selfish indul gences and family demands which have placed many fathers on the pro verbial “treadmill to oblivion.” In many instances father himself is guilty. While there are certain things he wants for himself there is also a sense of pride in achievement when he is able to get ahead. In most cases it is not the high cost of living that is breaking up homes but rather the cost of high living.
Biola College is the educational choice for grand children of Dr. Ray A. Myers, chairman of the Biola Board of Directors. Seated with him are Susan and Sharon Myers. In the back are Paul Nauman, Len Simonsen, and John Myers. Another grandchild, Raedean Nauman, attends the Arizona Bible College in Phoenix.
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