• Home
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS

for the family

everyday wisdom for everyday families

  • start here
    • Meet Patrick and Ruth
    • Meet the Contributors
    • Statement of Faith
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Videos
  • For Better or For Kids
  • You
    • Following God
    • Ministry
    • Relationships
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Fatherhood
    • Parenting
      • Special Needs
      • Babies
      • Toddlers
      • Teens
    • Discipleship
  • Food
  • Shop

Family Fatherhood For the Family

Finishing Strong as Fathers and Hearing “Well Done”

Finishing Strong as Fathers and Hearing “Well Done”
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6, ESV).

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now; I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:23, NLT).

If we delight ourselves in God, the desire of our hearts will be to hear his words of approval. What could be better than hearing him say “Well done” about loving our wife and raising our children?

There are many men who, when they get older, end up puttering around and wasting time that could be invested in younger men who could benefit from their wisdom. But the men who keep their minds and hearts keenest for God are those who mentor younger men for God’s glory. I have invested in many younger men, and I always feel I come away the beneficiary.

Finishing Strong as Fathers

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (Psalm 78:4, ESV).

One of the great ironies of our culture is that fathers spend more time making money and less time with their children. Their children receive a rich inheritance, but a poor heritage.

“What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” And what will it profit him if he leads a Fortune 500 company, but loses his own children?

Multimillionaire Andrew Carnegie said, “The almighty dollar bequeathed to a child is an almighty curse. No man has the right to handicap his son with such a burden as great wealth.”

Without their parents’ guidance, children will not learn wisdom. Without wisdom, wealth will only damage our children by subsidizing addictions, laziness, and immorality.

Let’s be sure we give our children what they really need.

When I was a young pastor, each day I poured myself into endless church appointments and meetings. I found myself drained. One night, I was wrestling with my little girls, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up. We all laughed. But it got my attention. I went to the elders of my church and said, “Something has to change. I have to stop giving all the best hours of my day to the church. I need to spend a lot of those best hours with my family.”

By God’s grace, I made the needed adjustments and became a better husband and father. Looking back, I made many mistakes, but overall, Nanci and I invested in our children, and sought to train them to follow Jesus. When we look at our daughters and their husbands and children today, we are deeply grateful to God for what he has done. And we are profoundly grateful that our sons-in-laws’ parents raised them to fear and love God.

At the end of his life, no man says, “I wish I’d done more at the office and on the golf course.” He says, “I wish I’d done more with my family.”

So instead of one day looking back and wishing you’d done it, why not choose to do it now?

Randy

Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries

image credit: doc_ via sxc.hu

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)


About Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching the principles of God's Word and assisting the church in ministering to people around the world. Randy resides in Gresham, Oregon, with his wife Nanci. They have two married daughters and are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy loves hanging out with his family and enjoys biking, tennis, research, and reading.

« Don’t Become Their Worst Moment: Think BEFORE Speaking
10 Little Things to Bring Peace into Your Home »

Hey there! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We are absolutely thrilled you are here! We are a crazy church planting couple who loves Jesus, our four kids and loads of coffee! We are giving God the glory every step of the way and love sharing our journey with you.

Read more about us

Subscribe and receive our free guide to help you get through this season of suffering.

POPULAR POSTS

  • How to Build a Christian Home
  • No Bake Coconut Snowballs (GF)
  • 10 Little Things to Bring Peace into Your Home
  • A Letter to My Son (The Kindergarten Graduate)
  • How Your Family Can Pray for VBS this year

Categories

Search For the Family

Copyright © 2022 For the Family · Design by Bethany Beams

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.