BY HUMPHREY MTANDWA Being a father is not just a tittle but a spirit. The bible carries a story about how Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” Onan, knowing the child would not be his went into his brother’s wife but caused the seed to fall to the ground because he did not want to give an heir to his brother.
By law if Onan had given Tamar a son that child would not have been his but his brother’s. Fatherhood goes beyond just providing seed, many have surely given the seed that caused conception but not so many are fathers. We have many children who have fathers who live under the same roof as them, who are not fathers but just fathers by title.
Fatherhood goes beyond provision. it also ensures safety and fostering of strong and good character. In the book of proverbs Solomon takes pride in how both his parents contributed in his life “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” Being a parent goes beyond providing the essentials. When was the last time you sat with your child or even played with your child? What instructions does your child carry that come from the wisdom of his or her father?
Many have neglected the responsibility of parenting all in the name of providing and working for the family. In last week’s article, we focused on the need for discipline and how the rod is a form of love towards your child. As a parent, do you know your children’s friends? Have you met their parents? What type of family are they and is it a healthy environment for your child?
Every child worships their parents, especially the father and if only the father can take advantage of that and shape their children, we would not see some of the things we are seeing in our time. Even if the mother and father don’t stay with each other it is the responsibility of a father to instruct his child. Onan would have given seed but would have never been a father to that child. Sadly, many have given seed but have not been fathers. Parenting takes two and at times some children grow up in families that may not have both parents but just because a father is not in the house the child is growing up in, it does not mean the child will not have a fatherly figure. As a single parent your child will find what he or she does not have from you in others or other things in their environment. Parenting is a full-time job and goes beyond providing food. Let God raise God-fearing men and women who will take it to heart to raise children and train them up in the way they should go. Last week I said discipline is an expression of love by a parent towards their child. Solomon said “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him” Many assume disciplining a child is a sign of bad parenting especially if the rod is involved but Solomon in the book of proverbs said the only way to demonstrate love towards your child is through discipline. We have a responsibility as parents and that responsibility goes beyond the roles we have been playing. Let this be a challenge to be more involved in your child’s life. God bless you.
- Humphrey Mtandwa is an Apostolic teacher of the word of God and founder of Believers Voice of Triumph Ministries. He has authored many books, including The Enoch Generation, Truthfulness, Night Parables and Theophany. If you want to connect with him or have any questions, get in touch on www.apostlehumphrey.com