My dear readers,

(Excerpts from Building Firm Foundations, Dr SH Tow)

1. A job called Father

The father of a believing household has a task not given to other fathers. He is God's appointed head over that particular community and on him rests the authority and responsibility to see that the family be nurtured, instructed, guided and led in the ways of God. We have not forgotten the role of the pastor, but the man on the spot to administer the rule of God from day to day is the father.

The family is a God-ordained unit of society and belongs to a theocracy of believers. Over this unit is our Lord God Creator who has vested His authority in the father. How can the believing father live up to the expectation assigned to him? Naturally, he must have the necessary knowledge to perform the many roles thrust on him:

a) Father is pastor. He must be equipped with sufficient elementary knowledge of Basic Bible Doctrines. As John the Apostle puts it: you have known Him that is from the beginning. He must be able to impart such knowledge simply to his family. He must assume responsibility for the spiritual well-being of its members, and lead them in worship both in the home as well as in Church.

b) Father is example. He must be what he aspires to see in his children. He will fail miserably if he adopts the attitude of "Do as I say but don't do as I do." Like father like child is a law which he cannot ignore. His best assurance of success is to strive his uttermost to be like the Master: just, impartial, kind, compassionate, pure, honest, loving, wise, self-sacrificial, forgiving, merciful.

c) Father is provider. Count the cost and make wise provision for the family's needs. Naturally, this calls fordiligence and honest hard work.

d) Father is protector. He is responsible for the safety of the family: safety from physical harm and threats from outside, as well as safety from spiritual attacks and subversion by false Christian sects, from apostate movements,etc.

Only a Spirit-filled, Spirit-controlled, Spirit-led man can successfully undertake the job called father.

Lord, give us godly fathers so that we shall have godly children.

2. The world’s hardest job

Many a young man plunges into the international sea on the crest of a romantic wave with hardly a care as to what fatherhood involves.With the arrival of babies he gradually awakes to the fact that he was never quite prepared for that sort of undertaking. If someone had given him the "job description" earlier, he could have been better prepared.

Here then is a sample job description for prospective fathers:

WANTED: Christian man to be father of a family.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be a truly born-again believer with knowledge of basic Bible doctrines, to be able to instruct future children. Must be a man of vision, moral strength and character, able to direct a training programme to produce effective future parents like himself. Must conduct his training at all age levels in cooperation with a co-director (female) of his choice, and together to give advice and counsel, and solve interpersonal disputes. Must cope with all problems within the organisation which may arise from time to time, including odd jobs around the house, and emergencies of a domestic nature. Must be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

PROSPECTS: Good for the right man. In time may well rise to be a grandfather.

PAST EXPERIENCE: Not necessary. Good family background an advantage.

SALARY: Payment will be in terms of children's love, affection, and loyalty, gratitude, with liberal amounts of frustrations, domestic conflicts, childish rebellions and other periodic surprise upheavals.

Now that's some job description! Young men, ponder before you plunge! Surely no other calling is as demanding, as challenging and as heavy in responsibility. But the godly young man who seriously commits himself with his young lady need fear no ill. The prospects of glorious success in raising a wonderful godly family are assured, with God's help.

"[You] can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [you]" (Phil 4:13).

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour's Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor