The Good Father: Fathers are called to perform all sorts of tasks. One night, a father named Fred awoke to hear his 6 year old son Sammy crying. He went into Sammy’s room to find out what was the matter. Sammy had accidentally swallowed a penny that afternoon, and he was up all night, concerned that he was going to choke to death if he lay down. Fred thought about what he could do to ease his son’s mind. An idea sprung to mind, so he told Sammy to sit tight while he went to get a flashlight. He returned, flashlight in hand, and a penny secretly hidden in his palm. He told Sammy to lay on his bed, so he could look for the penny. He explained that if he lay down, the penny might fall from his throat and into his head. Sure enough, Fred spotted the penny and “removed” it from his ear. Sammy was so pleased in the way his father had helped him, he grabbed the penny from his father’s hand, immediately swallowed it, and said, “Do it again, Daddy!” A Good Father Teaches his Children In today’s reading, we see a model of how a good father cares for his children. King David, known as Israel’s greatest King of the Old Testament, was dying, and gave Solomon, his son and heir, advice on how to continue on as king. When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man,” David’s reign had been marred with scandal and strife: God sent Nathan to rebuke him for committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12), and David’s rule was challenged in a civil war at the hands of his son Absalom for refusing to punish his son Amnon for raping their sister (2 Samuel 13-15). David understood the gravity of his responsibility to teach his son to carry on as an even better king and leader than he was; he used his last breath to provide instructions to Solomon. He loved his son so much, that he spent his last few hours on earth teaching Solomon to be Godly and wise – traits Solomon carried into his reign. Often, we consider the public school system as the primary teacher for our children, but the most important role parents can play is that of teacher to their children. We can fulfill this responsibility in a number of ways: We can teach our children more than in academic sense. In fact, the parent’s most important form of instruction is more about character than reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. We teach our children moral character through discipline, not abusive, but lovingly setting limits of behavior and ensuring those limits are upheld. We also teach by example, by attending church regularly, establishing a practice of family devotional time. Because we can only teach what we know, it is important that this charge to teach our children means we must never stop learning. Just because we’ve made it past our required academic curricula, we should never stop learning. We can learn and grow spiritually through regular bible study and fellowship. We continue to expand our knowledge and keep our mind sharp they same way we keep our bodies strong: exercise! Fight ignorance: read a book. Teaching is not always done in a formal classroom environment. Teachable moments abound in life. Play time, walks through the woods, fishing, or any time spent together can be turned into an opportunity to teach our children by explaining concepts in a less formal scenario. This type of teaching may be more effective, in that our children are more open to hearing the message when reinforced with activities they enjoy. A Good Father Follows God Despite all of King David’s troubled times and missteps, he was known as a man after God’s own heart (), because he was a penitent man who dearly loved God. He gave Israel a model for worshipping God by penning half of the Psalms himself. While David was far from perfect, he was a Godly man and a great king. Part of his charge to Solomon was to follow this example of loving God first and foremost, and following his ways. “So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go,” In some respects, David is guilty of telling Solomon, “Do as I say, not as I do,” by charging Solomon to follow God’s ways, but this is good advice. David knew that the “Do as I say” model of teaching is of limited value. It is far more important and effective to lead by example. Even though David was not a perfect follower of God, he was known for his love of God, and set a standard for worshipping Him that is still followed today. In the mid-1980’s the Partnership for a Drug-Free America released a commercial warning people that parents who use drugs have children who use drugs. The commercial depicts a father confronting his son about using drugs. The father is yelling at his son and demands, “Who taught you to do this stuff?” The son’s response was chilling: “You, alright? I learned it by watching you!” We must set an example for our children, so that when someone says “Like father, like son,” they mean it as a compliment to our children. How can we set a Godly example for our children? The first and easiest way we can set this example is by setting aside time for fellowship with our children and with God. By simply spending time, we can show our children the importance of fellowship and togetherness in God’s plan for us. We also instill a value of worship in our children. We also set an example by avoiding scandal and ensuring an honorable legacy for our family. If our children are proud of our family, they are more likely to avoid behavior that will bring scandal and shame upon the family. If we show a good example, our children can follow in our footsteps. Rodney Atkins’s recent hit, “Watching You” tells of how a son grows up learning how to cuss, but more importantly, how to pray and how to live, by watching his dad. “I’ve been watching you, Dad, ain’t that cool? A Good Father Loves His Family King David showed his love for his son, by devoting his dying breath to instructing Solomon and advising him how to prosper as king. He is warning Solomon to avoid his own mistakes in life as a man and as a king. He shows his love for his family through service to his son. Rather than ask for a drink or medicine to ease his pain, he gives Solomon sage advice. His concern is not for himself, but for his beloved son. How can we show love for our family? A good rule of thumb for how to live is to put God and Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. Service is one of the most clear and recognizable way to express your love. By serving others, we put our own needs behind those we are serving. Parents have two main duties: Protect and Provide for your family. We must provide for our family both financially and spiritually. By helping around the house, expressing affection, and listening to our family, we provide the love, help, and support they need to develop physically, emotionally, and socially. We bring honor to our family by honoring God and following His will. Love through service takes TIME! This means that as a father, your job is NOT to become a workaholic, thinking that spending 18 hours a day at the office is providing for your family’s needs. While it may provide for them financially, it comes at the expense of their emotional and spiritual needs. The Perfect Father As we mentioned before, David was far from the perfect father. He did not avoid scandal and strife perfectly, nor did he set a flawless example and legacy for his children. However, none of us are perfect, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (John 3:16-17) By setting His example of love through service and sacrifice, you can become a good father, just like King David, the greatest of Israel’s kings. Happy Father’s Day. Amen.
King David’s Advice to Solomon
1 Kings 2:1-4
David’s instruction to Solomon was to be strong, as a man. Does this verse tell us that a man’s job is to pump iron, and strive to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger? Not exactly. David is talking about internal strength. His charge to be strong is a call to all leaders, leaders of countries, and leaders of our families, to be strong enough to face our fears, and endure during hard times.
I’m your Buckaroo, I want to be like you,
and eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are.” 
Only God himself is perfect and loves perfectly. God’s love for us was perfect and infinite. He showed his love not only through service, but through a very personal sacrifice; He sacrificed his only Son to die on a cross to pay for our sins.