Spiritual Benefits of Fatherly Love

In honor of Father-figures Day, this blog discusses important qualities and impacts of good fathering.

In the Bible, God’s symbolic use of human fatherhood conveys character traits that help us relate to various aspects of God and help men to be great fathers.

Coaching through Adversities

To mature, we all must face adversities and overcome our challenges. Fathers play a special role in helping their children overcome their fears and limitations.

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." [1 Corinthians 10:13]

Adversity, problems, and temptations are common realities of life. Like God, good fathers wisely instruct their children to avoid these pitfalls of life (where possible) and coach them through those which must be experienced. Just as God cares for us as we navigate challenges, fathers are called to do the same. Allowing children to face their challenges, is not unloving. Good fathers protect their children from what they cannot handle and coach them through the challenges which they are able to face and surmount.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." [Proverbs 22:6]

With a good fathers coaching, the child will build character, values, and disciplines that will benefit them for life. These values cause virtuous cycles that the child can demonstrate for themselves. When the fathers coaching and instruction are adhered to, it not only builds the child's endurance and maturity, but it also deepens the mutual love, trust, and respect between father and child.

“And you saw how the LORD your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now He has brought you to this place.” [Deuteronomy 1:31]

As God provides us with love, direction, and guidance into good destinations, similarly, fathers provide the same as they maintain vision for their children's future.

Giving Correction

“I will be his father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents.” [2 Samuel 7:14]

Scripture teaches that correction is a form of kindness and instills self-control. Children who misbehave without being corrected can become miserable adults from lacking self-control. Just as fathers correct their children’s misbehavior, God corrects the misbehaviors of those He fathers.

Demonstrating Kindness & Respectfulness

Children learn kindness and respectfulness by witnessing their parents relationships. [See Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19]

“As a father is kind to his children, so the LORD is kind to those who honor him.” [Psalm 103:13]

Kindness and respectfulness are reciprocal in healthy relationships. Fathers teach their children why and how to treat others kindly and respectfully.

Good Fathering Models Gods Love

“11 My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you. 12 For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights in.” [Proverbs 3:11,12]

Learning to love ourselves begins in our childhood. A father’s wisdom and love can prevent their children from developing abusive patterns and consequences later in life:

“A single reprimand does more for a discerning person than a hundred punishments for a fool.” [Proverbs 17:10]

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” [Proverbs 19:20]

Good Fathering instills Dignity in Children

“Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters, like strong corner pillars skillfully crafted in a palace.” [Psalm 144:12]

Nothing truly valuable in life requires violating good character to obtain it. Nurturing fathers guide their children in maintaining good character and dignity while they navigate failures and successes; especially when facing rejection and opposition from others.

"Jesus told his disciples, "Situations that cause people to lose their faith are certain to arise. But how horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to stumble from his faith!" [Luke 17:1]

Scripture records and teaches the proper execution of every value and virtue known to humanity and warns against every deficiency that causes failure and hurt. Those values are goals or ideals that influence our thinking. Virtues are our behaviors that demonstrate having high ethical or moral standards. When a father teaches their children values and virtues, they give them the keys to godly character. This prevents the child from developing a self-centered, inconsiderate mindset that deceives and takes advantage of others for their own benefit.

"and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds," [Hebrews 10:24]

Good father's teach their children to be considerate, encouraging, and inspiring.

Good Fathering develops rewarding Self-Satisfaction

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” [Galatians 6:4]

Comparing ourselves to others cannot produce the satisfaction of knowing our self-worth. Fathers help their children learn good standards, values, and critical thinking skills to govern themselves. Fathers teach children how to improve their performance without self-assessment leading to self-condemnation. As a result, children become adults who do not seek validation from others, nor compare themselves to others to feel confident.

Good Fathering uses Discipline for Instruction not Punishment:

“⁵ And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. ⁶ For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He chastens each one He accepts as his child. ⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” [Hebrews12:5-11]

Godly correction and discipline produce the mindset and character necessary for a spiritually abundant and peaceful life. Good fathers model these qualities for their children:

“Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” [Romans 13:10]

Fathers do more than model good behaviors. The structure they provide enables future generations to conduct successful relationships with God, self, and others.

We're thankful for all the father-figures who helped us go farther in life!

There’s nothing ‘toxic’ about the benefits of Fatherly Love!

Anothen 👔