I want to exhort you today on 7 creative ways to honour a father. I believe at this time of the year we should take time and honour the male parents in our lives.
Who is a father?
A father is the male parent of a child; so then your father is your male parent.
By extension, however, there are many types of fathers;
- Biological/surrogate father:
Your biological father is the man whose seed or sperm gave birth to you. A surrogate father is a biological father except he has no legal rights to the child.
- A stepfather:
A stepfather is a man married to your mother.
- Father-in-law:
Father-in-law is the father of your wife or spouse.
- A foster/ surrogate father:
A foster or this surrogate father is a man who takes care of a child when one or both parents are unavailable.
- Your spiritual father:
Your spiritual father is the person who gives birth to you by the gospel.
Why should you honour these men?
There may be a thousand and one reasons to celebrate all these men in your life, but more importantly, do so because the word of God commands us to. It is not optional; it is a must. We must honour these men, not just once in a year but in all of our lives both in their lifetime and after their decease.
[Ephesians 6:2-4 KJV] “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
To honour your father and mother is a commandment with a promise; so that it shall be well with you and your days may be long on earth. One of the major causes of failure and premature death is children dishonouring their parents.
In what creative ways can you honour your father?
There are many creative ways of honouring your father:
- Never be your father’s judge. Look up to him, be inspired by the story of his life (See 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Isaiah 51:1-3).
- Don’t be puffed up against your brethren (See 1 Corinthians 4:6-7).
- Don’t reign as a king while your father lives as a pauper (See 1 Corinthians 4:8-14).
- Be a follower of him (See 1 Corinthians 4:15-21).
- Never expose or mock your father’s shame or nakedness.
- Advance your father’s legacy. Plant a tree in his memory. Start a foundation to his honour, establish an annual lecture to honour him, build something in his honour.
- Make choices that a godly father would be proud of.
I believe with all of my heart that if we learn to honour our fathers; it shall be well with us and our days shall be long.
I love you
Pastor Simpe Bediako
