The role of fatherhood is ordained of God but there is a process to follow. The God-given procedure first begins with becoming a New Testament Christian. A man that is unwilling to have God first in his life as a faithful Christian is unqualified to form a home and have children. He can still do it without God’s blessing but not successfully. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” (Ps. 127:1; cf. Matt. 7:24-27). But through a faithful life he should choose a faithful Christian woman as a wife and companion with whom he may have children (1 Cor. 7:2; Heb. 13:4). They both should raise the children together in the ways of the Lord (Deut. 6:6-9; Pr. 22:6). If for some reason a man has failed to follow this process and has children, all is not lost. However, he needs to go back to step one and become a New Testament Christian by obeying the gospel of our Lord (Rom. 1:16). Christian men should lead the home, period.
Since a divided home cannot stand (Mark 3:25), it is imperative that as a faithful Christian he marries a faithful Christian. Be what you hope to attract. There is no greater yoking together than that of marriage since the two become one (Matt. 19:5-6; Eph. 5:31). The yoke of marriage is far easier if the two are on the same spiritual page (2 Cor. 6:14-16). If a Christian man is married and his wife is not a Christian he may win her to Christ with a faithful life. If a man is not a faithful Christian but his wife is, he should listen to her and be open to a bible study with a sincere mind (1 Pet. 3:1-2). It is God’s will that men lead the home but they can only rightly do so with God leading them (Gen. 3:16; Eph. 5:22-24).
When a man becomes a husband and father he has an enormous responsibility. His presence and influence is of such magnitude the home is often a reflection of him. He no longer lives for himself but for others. This means physical and spiritual sacrifice is demanded of him. Therefore, he will physically labor and often go without for the success of his family (Gen. 3:19; Eph. 4:28). And, although he is by no means perfect he will also faithfully labor for his family’s spiritual success (Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15; Eph. 6:4). He understands that children should be brought up in an environment in which they will learn God’s will and the way to heaven (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15).
