A Christian Man: He's a Spiritual Father

Written by: Greg Arnold

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.. - Psalm 82:3 (NIV)

Another young boy sits alone in an empty apartment - wondering why no one is there to greet him after school. Mom is at work, because she has to be there, and dad stopped coming around a couple of years ago. He hardly knows him - but he aches to know him.

A year passes by, then another, followed by yet another - mom now works two jobs to keep the bills paid and food in the pantry. Dad calls at Christmas - sometimes. The young boy now passes into manhood... with only television, friends, church, coaches, and teachers to credit for his idea of what a man should be.

He didn't make it to church as often as his mother would like, there were many Sundays she punched the clock to work extra hours to get the overtime. Money was tight. But the times he was able to go... he often watched families and wondered... what it would be like...

God has plainly given us direction in both Old and New Testament writings - to care for the fatherless. Defend them, watch after them, invest in them. As Christian men, we have the responsibility to step in - and defend them from the eager and waiting grasp of the brutal world.

Showing up for our family is number one. Never allow your own family to be fatherless because of work, hobbies, selfish desires. Get that under control, then find a fatherless child who could use a model. A ride to church, to the ball field, to a youth function, to school activities. This is God's command... defend the fatherless.

THE RIGHT NEXT STEP

What were your childhood interactions with "dad" like?

How many fatherless children are you aware of in your social circles?

PRAY: Almighty father, maker of heaven and earth and giver of life - thank you for being my one true father. Help me to see those who don't know you and to serve those children who do not have a father. Show me how. Amen.

john

on 09/21/2023 at 02:15 PM

as a fatherless child without that example I find myself struggling to let God have control even though I was in church for half my childhood I'm now 40 and am just deciding that I need to give him control because I am just a screw up on my own and that is because my son whom I've put before anything and love so passionately (maybe too much) is fighting from seeing me which for me is the lowest of lows! it's a rough life not to have a dad's loves as a child so this is a beautiful subject to talk about

Scotty Weeks

on 09/08/2023 at 03:58 AM

I lost my dad when I was 7. If it was not for the Scout leaders and sporting coaches, my life would have been very different. Now my grandsons lost their dad last Feb. I am blessed to be a involved grandpa as well as knowing and walking along side of their coaches. These boys are now surrounded with an interconnected network of Godly men. Praise be to God

Kevin French

on 07/25/2023 at 11:31 PM

This is awesome! If you haven’t seen the movie/documentary called “Show Me the Father”, I highly recommend it. It a definite testimony about God the Father and how He works.

Peter Cianci aka Papa Pete

on 07/21/2023 at 09:47 AM

The point of my story is that although I had a present dad, his overwhelming nurturing and let's say worldly love severely handicapped me as I got older. I bet most of the men here grew up a lot faster than I did! It simply proves that we must, along with our own sons and grandsons, seek our Father in Heaven above ALL else. Become conditioned to the love of Abba our Father, Jehovah Nissi, my Lord my refuge who loves us unlike any dad on Earth could ever be! So like you may feel victimized not having a present dad, I too was victimized by having an overly protective dad who stunted my growth nor did he explain the urgency in seeking the Lord day by day, hour by hour! Although, I do have great memories and do miss and love my amazing pop, refusing to discount his immense love for me, it cost me many idle, non-productive years of my life. In all of OUR cases we can refer to the Lord's promise in Joel 2:25 ..and the Lord will restore the years that the Locusts took away 🙏 ❤️ Praise be to God!!! ✝️

on 07/21/2023 at 09:27 AM

Wow! I'm touched by all the incredible stories I've been reading here. Talk about courageous, God loving men who desire to know thy Father in Heaven. Bless you all! I was blessed to have a present dad all my life until he recently passed. He was an amazing person with a big heart and very much made me feel loved and that I could do anything in life! However, for the benefit of those men who did not have a present dad or even a dad at all, although my pop practiced "Catholicism" and clearly I did as well while growing up with him, he was very much a worldly man. Having been a Christian ✝️ now for 20 years, Praise God, I can see a significant difference in my faith vs. my dads. In fact, he never spoke to me about being a Godly man but rather shared his worldly perspectives regarding life. He unknowingly kept me from growing up and maturing the right way, always offering to pay for things to "help" me in my 20s to my early 30s. I was conditioned to his love and accepted it. It hurt me severely as I got older since I put little pressure on myself to walk straight and narrow, save money, and toughen up as a man. I became an ignorant, stupid young man who ended up womanizing for years because I was "gifted" with good looks! Be careful what the devil says. He will lead you to the slaughterhouse. I had no discernment and fell into a trap until my early 40s. It took me 15 years to grow and mature as a real man the way God intended. Now, raising Godly grandsons.

michael f vinning

on 01/30/2023 at 12:52 PM

I was thinking about this last night : that it is easier for me to talk to a stranger who suffers from addiction of any kind than it is to talk to my son about everyday life…bc that’s what I know…addiction and pain and recovery…I know nothing about relationships or how a dad should be with his son. It breaks my heart and I’m sure deep down it breaks my sons heart too!

David Hibinga

on 01/06/2023 at 04:52 PM

I looked like a total orphan, my devorsed Many years ago, I was truly treated like a label. I thank God through that rough training, I am able to take care of orphans on addition to my pastoral duty. thanks for this message.

on 11/12/2022 at 01:22 PM

My dad did the best he could with what he was given, which wasn’t much as 1 of 8. He found purpose in work and play, didn’t leave much room for me. After the divorce at age 8, I didn’t see him for 10 years…I found him after

David Hobbs

on 10/13/2022 at 01:48 PM

Great Read! 👏🏻

Pablo Pineda

on 09/29/2022 at 03:21 AM

I couldn't agree more with the message. I didn't have a father or grandfather and this was so painful. I remember in elementary the school hosted a father and student event, I was crushed. This is actually what lead me to God, reaching deep inside and finding him. I always had a longing to be a good father afterwards. seeing how my mother struggled to raise 6 kids, one does need to help the fatherless. The lords word is always true.

on 07/14/2022 at 11:20 PM

I haven't seen my kids in almost 3 months and it is one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. My oldest daughter wont talk to me . My son Is becoming the same way and my lil daughter still thinks daddy is the world. But reading this really made me break down because I desire to have a relationship with my two older kids but I don't know why they don't. So it hurts a lot . But just like our Father in heaven I'll never stop showing them that I love them.!!! Hopefully one day they come back to me.

Matt Clarke

on 03/05/2022 at 03:28 PM

I have young teenage daughters and one grown son. I am stumbling in being the best father for them. Being the only guy in the house and not understanding all the emotions and problems they face. And then God has opened the door for my wife and I to build into my kids friends that call us mom and dad. I pray for the strength and understanding that only comes from God to be the dad and man my kids need as well as have home the neighbourhood kids feel they can come to. Thank you Father for my parents and my upbringing. Thank you for my kids and now grandchild. Help me to show you to these children.

Hunter

on 02/27/2022 at 01:28 PM

I learned what kind of father not to be from my dad. I pray I won't be condescending, emotionally and verbally abusive, critical, hurtful, yelling, cause my kids to doubt themselves and what their capable of and to hate themselves, and cause them to cry themselves to sleep thinking it would be better if they weren't born or if they should just kill themselves. I want to be encouraging, Godly, loving, and everything I wish I had from my dad.

on 11/16/2021 at 02:32 AM

I'm uplifted by the kids I see at an adolescent group home who want to be around me, talk with me, and offer to help with whatever task I'm working on (as a maintenance man). They ache for communication, approval, attention, structure... things that they haven't been taught by their fathers. I'm an old guy so I can tell you young men, don't work too hard on making sure your kids are your "friends", or giving them what they "want". These group home kids often respond to discipline, with positive outcomes.

Kyle Thompson

on 11/04/2021 at 03:35 AM

I lost my father when I was 10 years old. I had many men who stepped up and showed me how to be a “man”. The one thing I did lack was a father figure to help guide me in the ways of the lord. I grew up in church but never really got into church. I played in the worship bands but never really read the Bible or prayed a whole lot. Now as a father myself I feel like I am playing catch up. I have started doing daily devotional and praying. So hopefully I can show my children the way and teach them the things I had to learn on my own.

Matthew

on 10/30/2021 at 05:59 AM

Father God, your ways are righteous and Holy. Whatever things inside me that will keep me from being a defender of the fatherless, hater gather up and burn the chaff within me. Build me up to be a defender of the vulnerable and afflicted. Amen.

Simon Pratt

on 10/04/2021 at 04:25 PM

I have a passive father who showed me how to live a Godly personal life, and I owe much to him. I want to carry the torch further and be more involved in my own family and community. Sometimes as an introverted "lone ranger" type it can be hard to fit into what being a father to the fatherless is typically portrayed as. You don't have to become the youth group Dad figure (the one typically surrounded by a bunch of kids). If you pay attention and notice them the right kids will find you. Listen well to what they have to say and encourage them where they are.

philasande thethani

on 09/30/2021 at 11:46 PM

study Bible verse

James

on 07/16/2021 at 02:40 AM

I recently saw the movie "Courageous," which is powerful, funny and heart-wrenching all at the same time. It's message is that there is no substitute for fathers in the family and the important role they play - as providers, teachers, counselors, spiritual leaders, and ultimate examples of what a Christian man should be in all phases of his life, especially with regard to his children, and others in his community who have no father. It lays it on the line, but it doesn't preach. It's uplifting. You can't come away but be inspired to be the man, and the father, God wants us to be. I highly recommend it...

A Christian Man: He's a Spiritual Father

THE RIGHT NEXT STEP

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