Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Proverbs 17:6 (ESV)
The glory of children is their fathers. In the NIV, the word glory is translated pride. This link (see below screenshot) gives the Blue Letter Bible (i.e., Strongs) definition for the word glory in Proverbs 17:6 —
Perhaps boasting (or pride) is the better translation in the context of this verse. When I was a boy, I remember times of boasting to my friends that my dad was either stronger or smarter than their dad, or could beat their dad up, etc. My dad was nowhere near perfect—and he may not have been able to do any of those things I ascribed to him—but he was my dad, and I delighted in boasting of him. I loved being able to say that my dad was the Vice President of the loan department at what used to be Union Federal Savings and Loan on the corner of Spring and State streets in New Albany, Indiana.
As I have aged I’ve come to have a sense of purpose and destiny that I did not have when I was younger. As we see more of our life in the rearview mirror than we do through the windshield, I think we begin to wonder if our life has made, or is making, a difference in the lives of others. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve become like a man on fire in this regard over the last five or so years. If Jesus tarries, I want to be influencing people 100 years from now (and beyond). I want to be remembered as someone who made an impact on others and helped them in their own pursuit of Christ.
With Father’s Day approaching, I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to encourage dads to seriously consider the impact they are making in the lives of others—especially their children. Are your children proud of you? We don’t have to play professional sports or split atoms to impress our children, but I do believe we should walk uprightly with integrity before them, and live with a defining sense of purpose.
Are you a five talent, two talent, or one talent guy (see Matthew 25:14-30)? I don’t know where I fall on this spectrum. Regardless, if I’m a five talent guy, I want to turn the five into ten; if I’m a two talent guy, I want to turn the two into four; and if I’m only a one talent guy, then I want to double that.
What you’ve been given to work with is not as important as what you do with it.
In every instance, God seems to expect an ROI (Return on Investment) of 100%. That’s a high expectation—especially if you think of it in terms of the Stock Market. Doubling your money is not easily accomplished as a rule of thumb.
I refuse to bury what God has given me. I refuse to sit on my hands and do nothing. I will use what the Lord has put in my hand to help others, to impact others, to influence others to achieve what God has purposed for them.
Would the boy you were be proud of the man you are?
-Laurence J. Peter, educator and author
What about you, dad? What are you doing with your life that will make your children proud of you? “What’s that in your hand?” asked God of Moses (Exodus 4:2). Don’t think He’s not asking us the same question. So my challenge to fathers this month is to use the gift(s) that God has given you. You can do more, and you can make a bigger difference/impact in the lives of others than you may be giving yourself credit for. Well, maybe not you . . . but Christ in you can if you give yourself fully to Him.
Happy Father’s Day to all you dads who are making your kids proud in ways you don’t even realize.
