Colossians 3:21

Have a Blessed Father’s Day

Today is Father’s Day, a day where all fathers are remembered for the love that we have given to our children. I hope every child will be able to call their father the “Greatest Daddy ever” ;-). I wish all fathers a Blessed Father’s Day. May the grace and the mercy of God be with us all as we navigate and learn how to be a father in the family.

Colossians 3:21 which says, “21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

Today’s Scripture comes from Colossians 3:21 which says, “21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Two weeks ago, during Kum Yan Mandarin Family Service, I shared that this verse is directed at fathers, not mothers. If Apostle Paul wishes to direct it to the parents, he would have used “γονεῦς” which he did use in verse 20 when he instructed children to “obey their parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord”. Apostle Paul uses the word, “πατέρε” which means “father”. Apostle Paul recognizes the authority and responsibility of the father as the head of the household, just like how Christ is the head of the church. This authority, bestowed by God, is the authority to love our wives and children. That’s why Apostle Paul’s reminder to the fathers is “Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

The act of embitterment, is a display of authority in the family without love. It is an act which severely discourages our children. In fact, if we read in one of the translations of the Chinese Bible (信义本), it says that “他们会灰心丧志”. “灰心丧志” is not just “discouraged”. It is “discouraged and the loss of will”. Embitterment has the power to hurt the soul and spirit of our children. And the worst thing that can happen to our children is that they lose their faith in God because of the embitterment by the father. I have seen cases like this where the kids of pastors, elders, left the church.

As we celebrate Father’s Day today (myself included), let us pray for our fathers, God’s representative in the family, to continue to be humble and learn how to be a father, learn how to be God’s representative in the family, and learn to be the “Greatest Daddy ever” because of how God has transformed our Daddies to be more like Jesus Christ. Have a Blessed Father’s Day.