High Achieving Fathers!

 A father said to his son, “When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he walked twelve miles to get to school.” The son replied, “Dad, when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he was President.” Very few fathers become President, but every father who has faith in God has potential to be a high achiever. A faithful father is a partner with God in turning little hearts and minds toward God as they “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4b). This has always been a huge task because the devil always has other designs for the young people among us. That is certainly the case in contemporary American culture. It requires much love, time, patience and effort to be a father.  More than some men who see themselves as fathers are willing to give. According to the U. S. Census Bureau (2021), 18.4 million children, one in four, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home (enough to fill New York City twice or Los Angeles four times over). This information likely won’t stick in your brain, but each of those numbers represents a real person with a real life and a real need for an involved daddy to teach them things a daddy ought to teach them. Research shows that father’s absence affects children in numerous negative and hurtful ways, while a loving, involved father’s presence makes a powerful and positive difference in the lives of both children and their mothers. There are no perfect fathers or mothers. And there are no iron-clad guarantees that a child / children will “turn out right” even when father and mother faithfully and intentionally play their God-designed and God-assigned, complimentary but not identical, roles in the lives of children under their care. God was a perfect parent to His first two children, and still they chose to disobey. They and their children paid a very high cost. The fact of the matter is, while many children overcome disadvantages and hardships associated with an absent or non-involved father, many don’t. That’s not preacher talk. The proof is in the data if you care and dare to look. Children need a daddy who cares enough to stay connected and present and involved enough to influence and educate them morally and spiritually.

General Douglas McArthur is credited with this prayer – “BUILD ME A SON, O’ LORD, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. BUILD ME A SON whose wishes will not take the place of deeds, a son who will know THEE – and that to know himself is the fountainhead of knowledge. LEAD HIM, I pray, not in paths of ease and comfort, but under the spur of difficulties and challenges. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. BUILD ME A SON whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future yet never forget the past. AND AFTER ALL THESE THINGS are his, add, I pray, enough sense of humor that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness; the open mind of true wisdom; the meekness of strength. THEN, I, HIS FATHER, will dare to whisper, ‘I have not lived in vain.’ ” Mark it down – any father who seeks to lead, train, and influence his children to love God IS a high achiever.

By: Dan Gulley, Smithville TN     

Character – Not For Sale!

Three thousand years ago Solomon reminded readers some things are worth more than money. He wrote: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Allow me to quote that verse in the Amplified Bible which reads: “A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold.” That statement by an inspired man reminds me of a more recent quote attributed to Antonin Scalia (an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1986 until his death in 2016) — “Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill, are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world not for sale is character.” David Kaplan apparently understood that principle. Kaplan was a sports talk host on WGN Chicago Radio for many years. According to Chicago Tribune writer Skip Bayless, back in 2001 Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, offered WGN Chicago Radio David Kaplan $50,000 to change his name legally to “Dallas Maverick.” When Kaplan politely declined, Cuban sweetened the offer. According to Bayless, Cuban, a multi-billionaire, would pay Kaplan$100,000 and donate $100,000 to Kaplan's favorite charity to take the name for one year. After much thought and bombardment by e-mails from listeners who said he was crazy to turn down the money, Kaplan refused. He explained to Cuban: “I'd be saying I'd do anything for money, and that bothers me. My name is my birthright. I'd like to preserve my integrity and credibility” (“Radio Host Prefers Cash Over Crass,” Chicago Tribune, 1-10-2001).

 Kaplan demonstrated a sorely needed character trait in America – the trait of integrity. Integrity is defined as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” Those who follow Jesus are to display integrity in their lives and with their lips. The apostle Paul admonished and encouraged his preaching friend Titus in Titus 2:7 with these words: “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.” Wayne Jackson writes that the Greek word translated “integrity” (New King James Version * King James Version “corruptness”) suggests “purity of motive, without the desire of gain.” Purity and integrity was lacking among even some (false) teachers in and around the church on the island of Crete where Titus was serving in the first century. Titus 1:11 declares they were “teaching things they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” – and Christ’s apostle tersely said [their] mouths must be stopped.” Simply put, these people valued cash more highly than character. Actually, they had character – but it was bad. Titus 2:8-10 goes on to teach integrity is expected of Christians – even those who were slaves, directing them to not steal but to “show all good fidelity” (or honesty). The reason is clearly stated: “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” What a striking and sobering thought – by the way I live I can make God and His gospel look attractive to people – or unappealing. Christian character can’t be bought and it’s not for sale, for any amount of cash. It’s an inside job that begins when I surrender my life to the Lord Jesus Christ who can give me a godly character (Ephesians 4:21ff). Think about it. 

             By: Dan Gulley, Smithville TN