Father’s Day Toolbox by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=741

Father’s Day Toolbox

Father’s Day 2012   My Father’s Tools

It is said that “God has ordained 3 great institutions here on this earth: The home, the government, the church. The oldest, and greatest of these institutions is the home. The church is a great institution, but is only as great as its homes. Our nation is great, though it has been far greater, but it is only as great as its churches.   “As the home goes, so goes the church, as the church goes, so goes the nation.”

Through the years, much of the burden of having the right kind of home has been placed on “mother.” But the Bible places most of the burden squarely in the lap of “Dad.”

Dad should be the one to set the moral & spiritual example in the home, and make sure that the Word of God is honored and revered. He should be the one to take lead in spiritual matters, and make sure his children are raised in nurtured to understand the Lord and His ways. They should also impress the importance of faith and church, and charity. Thank God for Christian mothers, some of which have many of these responsibilities fall to them because too many dads have not. But remember, dad will answer to God for it!

It was Joshua who said, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” He was the leader of the band.  Eve may have taken that first bite–but God came looking for Adam!

We live in a day in which it is very difficult to be a good man. It is even more difficult to be a good husband. But it is most difficult to be a good Christian dad.

The world has a warped concept of what it means to be a good dad. Just turn on the TV and you’ll know it’s true. Have you noticed that the dad of most TV households is made out to be a buffoon and an idiot? (Like Homer Simpson, or Ray Romano?)

Well, our standard should not be the television but rather the Word of God…

Jesus tells us that everyone builds on some kind of foundation, but not every foundation is a good one. For example, He tells the parable of 2 men who built on different foundations:
• A wise man built upon a foundation of rock (God and His Word) and his house stood in the storm
• But the foolish man built his house on a foundation of sand and the rain washed it away.

How many times have we gone to our fathers with a problem or project and he had just the right solution? Today I’ve brought a tool box with me full of tools that just may help you to be a better dad, or just a better person. Now this tools are just object lessons for what is really important.

1. The Instruction manual: The first thing we should do is refer to the instruction manual. Following them truly does make life simpler.  And concerning life matter God has provided the greatest instructional manual of all – the Bible. There is no other book like it in all the world. God has given it to us so that we can learn the best way to live. When you come right down to it, when you know how to do something the right way it gives you confidence and faith to take a project on. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2. Level or Plumb:  These tools are meant to help a carpenter get things on the level or get them true. If you start building something off level or tipped cock-eyed and before you know it you are going to have some big problems. We likewise should do our best to speak the truth and learn the truth in situations. You may have heard it said that there are 3 sides to every story; your side, their side and then, the truth. Years ago I remember the advice of a Christian counselor who told me just like Jesus did, ‘that the truth will set me free,’ (John 8:31) Find out the real truth in any situation and that will be the first step in fixing your problem.    You must also realize that sometimes the truth hurts.

3. Light: It doesn’t matter what you are trying to do, if you don’t have enough light it’s hard to do anything properly. Light dispels darkness. Likewise spiritual light illuminates and helps an individual to know which path to take. Your light can also guide others. In Matt. 5:14 Jesus said, “14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

4. Knee Pads: As you know there is no better ways to get things done than to get down on your knees and pray. Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing. It is our spiritual link to our heavenly father.  It’s a lot like this (show them an extension cord.)

As long as we stay plugged in to our heavenly Father we will have the energy to do what we have to do. (Pray for wisdom, understanding, patience, not to fall into temptation…)

5. Wrench or screwdriver : Sometimes you just need to turn things around. (that’s what repentance is all about – turning around!)   Many times we need to turn or convince others to turn their life around

6. Knife, chisel, or saw:  Or sometime you need to cut things away or cut things out.  We all have those defects that we need to get rid of. (Lying, cheating, foul mouth, all kinds of evil.  Sand Paper is good to smooth off the rough edges. (Where harsh words only exasperate or upset another)

7. Funnel: Sometimes you need a funnel to help you pour good things into others like God’s wisdom and instruction, encouragement,  sometime even a concerned rebuke.

8. There are times when you feel like to need a torch to melt some hearts. How do we do this? By having courage to be honest and confront sometimes with tough love)

9. Rubber mallet; and then there are other times.. well you get the idea. (discipline)  It always should be a Godly discipline.

10. This something you will use a lot, a putty knife to smooth things over. (forgiving)

11. Jumper Cables:  You might need these to jump start someone. Love and encouragement work better than any set wires. (We may even be talking about tuff love)

12. Clamps or duct tape are good for holding two close together, but arms are meant for hugging. And there is nothing like a hug to give comfort to another.

13. Glue is meant to bond things permanently together; but so does love, dedication and commitment. ‘

14. Hand Cleaner and rags; we all make messes that we need to clean up. Learning to be humble and learning to say I’m sorry works even better when dealing with relationships.  We also need to show others how Jesus can really clean up our life.

Even though today is Father’s Day, and dads are the ones that usually use these kind of tools, they are something we should all be using in a spiritual way.

All these implements require the individual getting personally involved. And getting involve in others lives in a positive way is about the most important thing you can do with your own life.

Over and over we read how Our Heavenly Father expressed His own love for us. No He did not use hand tools such as these, but He showed us His love,  – He showed us the way the truth and the life.

– He does His best to melt our heart and turn us around for our own good.

– He is willing to cut away the imperfections in our life and smooth off the ruff edges.

– He wants to pour His wisdom and good instruction into us.

– And rather than taking a rubber mallet to the side of our head, He would rather jump start us with encouragement, love and the hug of someone who really cares for you.

– He did not clean us with a detergent or hand cleaner, rather out of love He cleansed us by the blood of His Son.

When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples He finished up by telling them this in John 13:12-17, “12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Learn from our Father’s example, learn to use these tools, and take time to Love one another.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566