Five Bible Principles/How to Be a Good Father

1.Make Time for Your Family

As a father, how do you show your children that they are important to you? Surely there are many things you do for your children, including the sacrifices you make to feed them and provide them with an adequate home.  You would not do such things if your children were not important to you. Yet, if you do not spend significant amounts of time with your children, they might conclude that you care more for  other things, such as your job, your friends, or your hobbies, than you do for them.

When should a father begin to spend time with their children? A mother begins to form a bond with her child while it is still in the womb.  Some 16 weeks after conception, and unborn baby might begin to hear. At this stage a father too can start to build his unique relationship with his unborn child.  He can listen to the baby's heartbeat, feel it kick, talk to it, and sing to it. 

Bible Principle:  In Bible times men were personally involved in the education of their children.  Fathers were encouraged to spend time with their children on a regular basis, as is made evident by the Bible's words at Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, which says:  "These words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you much inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up."

Next time: Five Bible Principles/How to Be a Good Father - 2. Good Fathers Are Good Communicators

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