It is not easy to be a good father as many dads have found that benefit when they follow the wisdom found in the Bible.
Let us consider some of the Bible’s lessons that can help us become better fathers:
1. Making time for the family
When you spend time with someone you show them that you love and care for them and that they are important to you.
You work really hard to be able to provide for your family and yet, if you do not spend significant amounts of time with them, they can feel that you care more for other things and not them.
The men in the Bible were personally involved in the education of their children, as made evident by the Bible’s words in Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, which says: “These words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”
2. Be a good communicator
Try and be a good listener without being judgmental. Children love to communicate and tell their dads about how they spent their day and in order to communicate effectively with your children, you must be a careful listener.
If your children think that you will lose your temper quickly and be judgmental, they will have little incentive to express their inner feelings to you.
But if you listen to them calmly, they will feel that you are genuinely interested in them, and will in turn be far more likely to share their precious thoughts and feelings with you.
We can draw wisdom from God’s word about listening carefully from this verse, “Every man must be swift about hearing, slow about speaking, slow about wrath.” (James 1:19)
3. Discipline your children and appreciate them too
When you discipline your children, do it out of loving concern for them and give them sound advice, correction, education, and chastisement when needed.
An ancient proverb says: “As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it.” (Proverbs 25:11).
Appreciation enriches a child’s character and they blossom when they are acknowledged and appreciated.
A father who appreciates his children regularly will help to build confidence in his children and motivate them not to give up trying to do what is right.
“You fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.”—Colossians 3:21.
4. Love and respect your wife
The way a father exercises his role as a husband has a very powerful effect on the children’s development. When your children see how loving and respectful you are to your wife, they too will treat one another with love and care.
Bible Principle: “Husbands, continue loving your wives . . . Let each one of you individually so love his wife as he does himself.”—Ephesians 5:25, 33.