This blog series examines what Scripture tells us about godly character—and shares encouragement for Christian fathers today. While the encouragement found in these blog posts is aimed specifically at fathers, there are applicable truths for all Christians.
“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect”
(1 Timothy 3:1-4).
The apostle Paul considered himself to be Timothy’s father in the faith. In the verses quoted above, he reminds his spiritual son of several of God’s requirements for those who aspire to be overseers in his church. (Today such leaders are primarily our pastors.)
We can understand why God expects those qualities from pastors—they’re the spiritual leaders of God’s people and his representatives! In many ways, they set the pattern for God’s people to see what it means to live as Christians in this world.
Dear Christian father, God calls you to be an overseer—the spiritual leader of your family. That’s a noble task. Many of the qualities Paul listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-4 directly apply to your role as a father.
How you conduct yourself as a man, a husband, and a father is deeply rooted in your relationship with your Savior. That has an incredible impact on your children. You set the pattern for your family to see what it means to live as a Christian. That’s a responsibility!
What’s going through your head as you read that list of qualities? How do you match up? Are you managing your family in a manner worthy of full respect? Perhaps the sickening feelings of guilt and shame and the crushing weight of failure hang heavy on your shoulders.
If so, come with me to the foot of the cross. See your Savior there bearing your sin, your guilt and shame, your shortcomings and failures—as a man, a husband, and a father. Know that you are forgiven and set free! Now hear how God calls you to live each day for him.
Over the next few days, this blog series will examine some of the qualities found in 1 Timothy 3:1-4 and will show how they apply to you as a Christian father for the spiritual benefit of your children.
It’s a noble task—it’s a responsibility.
Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.