Next to being a husband, the role of a father is the most important role a man can assume. Psychology and sociology have proven time and time again that no figure has a greater impact on the moral stability of a society than that of a father. If that’s true, how much are you studying to be the best possible father you can be? How much effort do you put into understanding the significance of that calling? This blog post is intended to give fathers some important tools that will help them raise their sons to be everything that God has called them to be. Here are seven things that every father should teach his son.
1. God is His Source
We were designed to be dependent. Teaching your son to trust in God for all of his needs, is the single most important thing you can do for him. There will be times when you won’t be able to pick him up when he falls, offer him that bit of wisdom he needs, or help him financially. Truth is, you won’t be around forever. When your son knows that he has a heavenly Father who will always be there beside him to provide for his every need, he can live in full faith and confidence that his back is covered even when his earthly father can’t be there.
2. His Potential is Limitless
A son won’t live a life beyond how he sees himself. What he believes he’s capable of will always be the ceiling to what he can achieve. Helping him understand his identity in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within him is what will release his limitless potential. God has a mission for us and we’re destined to fulfill it. Your son must see himself as the solution to humanity’s problems. He must see himself as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. He must know that with God, anything is possible.
3. Humility is a Must
God says that He opposes the proud but favors the humble. (James 4:6) That is also true with human beings. No one likes a proud and arrogant person. If you are; kind, humble, and teachable, you’ll continue to find favor with others. Teach your son that finding favor with people is essential to promotion and critical to fulfilling his purpose. The bible refers to Moses as the humblest man on earth during his time. It was no coincidence that the humblest man on earth also had the most important calling – leading God’s people.
4. He Has the Freedom to Fail
A son has a deep desire within him to make his father proud. That feeling is also true for us with our Heavenly Father. Everyone would love to get everything right the first time. The fact is that we don’t always do. That’s where grace comes in. Grace takes the pressure off of us to be perfect and gives us freedom to fail and admit when we’re wrong. The consequences for our mistakes are many times, punishment enough. Let your son know that he can trust you to not speak harshly to him or condemn him when he’s made a mistake. Let him know that just as it is with our Heavenly Father, he should never fear coming into your presence.
5. Correction is a Gift
There will be times when it seems that our sons may never learn their lesson. Sadly, too many never do. The reason can usually be traced back to a lack of correction and discipline. When a son is continually and purposefully making the same mistakes, correction is necessary. The bible tells us that God disciplines those he loves.(Hebrews 12:6) That means God doesn’t discipline his children from a place of anger, but from love. Likewise, let your son know that the reason for your correction is purely motivated by your love for him and that it is necessary for getting him on a path that is better than the one he is currently on.
6. God Will Bless Everything He Does
God is always better than we think He is. Just as we are continually rooting for our sons to be successful, our Heavenly Father is enthusiastically singing over us and cheering us on! There are many instances in the bible where God promises to prosper his children. Deuteronomy 28:8 says that God will guarantee a blessing on everything you do! It also says that if God is for you, who can be against you?(Romans 8:31) Assuring your son that he has all of heaven backing him up, will give him rest in knowing that no weapon formed against him by the enemy will prosper.
7. Women are Precious
A son starts learning how to treat a woman by the example his father sets for him. Little eyes are watching when you least suspect it and don’t think for a second that your son won’t end up with your character traits. The identity we give women in our minds will govern the way we choose to treat them. There is one word that can be used to sum up how men should learn to perceive women, “precious”. It may be a paradigm shift for men to think of women in this way, but if we view them as such, God will be pleased with how you treat his daughters. Teach your son from an early age to regard women as they are, precious.
Final Thoughts
Remember that you are not just a father, but you are and always will be a son and you can’t teach what you haven’t learned. Ask the Father to take you deeper into understanding each of these principals so that you can teach your sons and grandsons to carry them into future generations. God has given you the privilege of being a father, but they are His sons first and yours second. You are simply a steward of what He has given you. So shepherd your sons in the way that they should go.
