FATHER, ARE YOU FAILING?

The Christian father has a many-sided calling. He is the administrative head of the home, the husband, the breadwinner for his family. Jointly with the mother he fills such important roles as teacher, counselor, friend. But there is also an important sense in which he should serve his household in a priestly way.

Of course he is not his family’s priest. “There is … one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 2:5). It is the glory of the Age of Grace that every believer should be represented by our Lord directly. As head of his house, however, the Christian father clearly bears responsibility for leading his family in spiritual matters and interceding for them in their deepest personal needs.

Failure here is disaster, perhaps unseen, but very very real.

The father who recognizes his priestly obligation will read the Bible to his family. Like Ezra, he will take pains as well to see that it is understood. He will face up to the need for individual counseling, presenting the problems of daily life in the light of their spiritual issues.

In a special sense he will be the family intercessor, discerning his family’s needs and bringing them to the throne of grace. It is with this frequently neglected ministry that we are especially concerned.

A burdened father’s prayer can uphold and encourage the wife and mother. Like Job, the father can wait on God that his children may find forgiveness for sins of ignorance and carelessness. He can ask that the savor and love of Christ come into the family life.

Not many families, we are afraid, are upheld by prayer like this. Father is not a Christian, perhaps, or if he is a Christian, he is busy with other things. Perhaps he does not take time to pray or has never discovered his priestly role. Whatever the reason, the family is infinitely poorer for this lack.

For those who suspect this may be mostly theory, we suggest a simple test. It can be most clearly made when family life is strained, when tempers are sharp and children seem possessed. But any time will do. Begin to pray for your family as their priest or intercessor. Find a special time for this special kind of prayer. Pray for your wife, your children, the spirit of the home. Pray for yourself as father.

If there are other priestly functions you are now neglecting, do your best to care for these. Do this for two weeks or a month and see what happens in your home.

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