According to the Bible, a father is someone that raises you and loves you as his own. Other characteristics include being wise, a leader, husband, provider and defender. In addition, your father should also be considered as a mentor and a friend.
There are many characteristics of a father according to the bible. In this article, we will discuss the characteristics of a father according to the bible.
The first characteristic of a father according to the bible is that he is kind and generous. A good father should be kind and generous towards his children. The bible says in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Therefore, when you train your child well, they will grow up being kind and generous.
Another characteristic of a father according to the bible is that he provides for his family financially. The bible says in 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Therefore, as a parent you should provide for your family financially because it shows that you love them by providing for them what they need.
Another characteristic of a father according to the bible is that he teaches his children about God’s word so that they can grow up knowing about God’s word and how much He loves them as well as others around them too! The bible says in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “
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Characteristics of a father according to the bible
There is nothing easy about being a father, especially nowadays. Well, we hear your pain. But, an honest look at history reveals a comforting familiarity to the foundational premise. The fact is dads have been throwing their hands up in the air for literally thousands of years. Fortunately for us, this means we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
You may view Scripture as some ancient, out-of-date text that has nothing to say about modern day life. Think again. There is a lot to glean and it may actually change the way you parent. Check out these 10 things Scripture says about being a father.
Five qualities of a godly father
1. Be your child’s “First Teacher” (Proverbs 22:6)
It’s our responsibility to “train up a child in the way he/she should go.” Not the school, not the government, but you—and that means dad.
2. Dads need to exemplify a good life (2 Cor. 3:2-3)
Scripture teaches that who we are and how we live is like a “letter from God.” Our kids read that letter, every day.
3. Provide for your family (I Tim. 5:8)
For those of you struggling to find work, don’t get down on yourself. This idea is more about your heart and desire. Being a father who provides covers more than rent and food. As dads, it’s our responsibility to make sure our family’s needs are addressed across the board. Be encouraged and look for ways to give to your family even when it is hard to financially.
4. Good dads discipline their children (Proverbs 13: 24)
The one who loves their children, Scripture says, “is careful to discipline them.” This is also about proactive leadership in our homes.
5. Dads spend time with their children, and it’s not empty time (Deut. 6: 6-9)
The Scriptures are clear that dads must engage their children in the kind of deep, heart-to-heart conversations that impart more than facts, but teach wisdom. Schedule some regular “conversational walks” with your children, one on one. Family time that counts.
6. Compassion is a “dad” characteristic
A father has compassion for his children. Psalm 103:13 points out, “so the LORD has compassion.”
7. “Put your money where your mouth is”
Well, not in those exact words. But James 1:22 instructs us to not only be “hearers” of God’s word but “doers” also.
8. Don’t provoke your children (Ephesians 6:4)
The alternative, the Scripture suggests, is to raise them to be young people of faith.
“Children who know that their dads pray for them every day own a deep sense of love and security.”
9. Dads never give up on their kids
The story of “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:20-24) is the story of a father who never gives up hope and is ready to receive his child back with open arms. We can discipline, we can hold accountable, but we must never give up.
10. Dads pray for their children (1 Chronicles 29:19)
King David prayed for his son, Solomon. Children who know without any doubt that their dads pray for them every day own a deep sense of love and security.
Types of fathers in the bible
It is not easy being a father. One cynic, speaking from his own experience, noted that children go through four fascinating stages. First, they call you “Da-Da.” Then they call you “Daddy.” As they mature, they call you “Dad.” Finally, they call you asking for money!
Just as we see four fascinating stages of children, there are at least four types of fathers worthy of mention today. Let’s spend a few minutes unpacking each.*
The first type of father is the “Failing Father.” This father is absent, unknown, and out of the picture. Did you know we are raising a fatherless generation in our culture? There are many reasons why children don’t have a father in their lives. It has been said that, each day, 20 million children wake up without a father in their home. Isn’t that devastating? My heart breaks for the fatherless generation that is being raised in our midst.
When I am traveling for mission work in third-world countries, I see the common thread of devastation wrought by the failure of fathers. In their book Children at Risk, Dobson and Bauer (1990) note the following:
Studies show that the absence of the father expresses itself in male children in two very different ways: It is linked to increased aggressiveness on one hand, and greater manifestations of effeminacy on the other. A 1987 study of violent rapists found that 60 percent of them came from single-parent homes. A Michigan State University study of adolescents who committed homicides found that 75 percent of them were from broken homes. Girls without fathers fare no better. They become sexually active sooner and are more likely to have out-of-wedlock children. (167-168)
Oh, that we would see the hearts of fathers return to their children and the hearts of children return to their fathers!
The second type of father is the “Fledgling Father.” The fledgling father is in the home, but his priorities are out of order. He is not tuned in to his children, their needs, or their interests. He is present and wants to be faithful, but he struggles in this role in a big way. He provides, but he doesn’t connect. And as a result, there is significant conflict between the father and his children. During one season of my ministry, I spent significant hours counseling a fledgling father. The conversations were often the same. He would describe conflict, how he just couldn’t get his kids to see things his way, and how he blew up at them. The desire was there, but the execution lacked significantly. One thing I wanted him to change, but he never did, was the possibility that there was another way to look at things . . . that maybe he was the one who needed to adjust his approach and expectations.
The third type of father is the “Faithful Father.” The Faithful Father is home, engaged with his kids, coaching their teams, and is very present in their lives. The Faithful Father loves his wife and demonstrates this love so that his children are established. The Faithful Father respects the words of Coach John Wooden who said, “The best thing a father can do for his children is show them that he loves their mother.”
The Faithful Father establishes security for his children, provides for them, is a fan of his kids, disciplines his kids, and is seeking and building a long-lasting relationship with his children.
We need many more Faithful Fathers today! Yet, I would argue that there is still more that our children need from us.
The final category of fathers that I want to look at today and in my next post is the category of the “Father of Faith.” A Father of Faith isn’t just a Faithful Father. He goes beyond that. A Father of Faith is one who is certain to bring Jesus into his marriage, parenting, work, and hobbies. The Father of Faith also brings his marriage, parenting, work, and hobbies to Jesus. The Father of Faith seeks continual encounters with Jesus.
Like other dads, Fathers of Faith struggle. But the key to their success is that they bring those struggles to Jesus. The New Testament gives us a picture of a Father of Faith by the name of Jairus. Let’s look at Mark 5:21-24 and 35-36. Take a look at Jairus, this Father of Faith.
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. . . .
35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
What will keep you from being a Father of Faith? For Jairus, it was fear. You see, what you didn’t read here, but is in the text, is what happened between verse 24 and verse 35. While Jesus was on the way, he got interrupted. He stopped, cared for an unknown woman’s ailment, and healed her. It was during this interruption that Jairus got the word that his only daughter, twelve years of age, had died. But take a second look at Jesus’ words.
Overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Jairus’ struggle is our struggle—the struggle between fear and faith. What fears keep you from being a Father of Faith? Here are five common fears that fathers face.
- Vulnerability—Men typically don’t like to be vulnerable. It just feels weak. So, to compensate, we put on a mask. We use a facade; we cover up. And the problem with this is that it affects our ability to relate to God and to others. It affects relationships and our need to be accountable. But what we must realize is that in our weakness, God becomes strong.
- Rejection—Here’s how this works: Even if we don’t realize it, we fear being vulnerable because we fear rejection. At home, we fear being rejected by those we love—parents, wife, and kids. At work, we fear being rejected and passed over for promotions. So, we fail to become the leader God has called us to be—all because of our fear of rejection.
- Losing Control—This one is a huge problem for men and women! We think, What if my life and relationships don’t turn out the way I want them to? Guys, if you’re anything like I am, you want to “fix it,” right? Men like to fix stuff. But, what if you can’t fix it? You feel helpless—like you’ve lost control. This is a real fear. We forget that control is an illusion. We were never in control anyway. God always is. And the fear of losing control is grounded in our next fear . . .
- Failure—What if I try and I don’t succeed? We have an inherent fear of not measuring up. We fear making bad decisions or being a poor leader. Our fear of failure is a result of our insecurities and perceived weaknesses.
- Insignificance—Here’s what this fear looks like: What if I give myself completely to something, and at the end of the day, it doesn’t seem to matter? Am I really making a difference? As a pastor, I struggle with this fear frequently.