What is a father's role in a Christian family?
Fathers are very important in society. Without them and mothers, society cannot function. All fathers must take the leadership role in the family although this is not the case in many families, including Christian ones. God put them in charge and the mothers are their executive officer (second in command). When the father relinquishes his command or the mother usurps it the family suffers. Any time the ordained order of anything is altered the results are always negative. The best thing to do is for the mother to pray and humbly encourage her husband to take the leadership role if he is not .She cannot nag him into being a spiritual leader; she can only pray him into it. A good way for her to do this is ask him to pray and read the Bible with her. Once he is comfortable doing that he can have family devotions as he is commanded to:
"And these words which I commanded you today shall be on your heart, and you shall repeat them to your sons, and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk in the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." (Deuteronomy 6.6-7)
It is not only the responsibility of a mother to take care of the children in a family, it is the fathers responsibility as well. Children who lack the proper care and guidance will end-up in doing harmful things in future.
Jesus said, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
It the father's resonsibility to support the family as head. Of the household. He should fulfill his responsibilities to keep the family functioning in a positive manner. A father should protect his family by providing proper food, clothes and shelter. As the Scripturees teach, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground" (Genesis 3:19).
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8).
A father and husband should respect his wife. A husband will gain respect from his wife and from society if he is a good and responsible father. A father who cannot take care of his wife and children will be considered a failure not only in society but according to the Scriptures. The first teacher in the eyes of a child is his father. He should teach his children what is right and what is wrong. A father should be strict, as well as a trusted friend to his children.
A good father and head of the family should understand his wife and children and guide them in their difficulties. As a man's boss at work is dependent on workers for growing a company, children depend on father's for the growth of their lives. Childred learn by setting a good example for them so that good characteristics are acquired by children hena father ssets a good example.
"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him" (Proverbs 28:24)
