Some Thoughts About Dad’s Day

by Max Dawson

A man's first priority should be to "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). The meaning of that text is to let God reign in your life. Set Him as king in your heart. Seek His plan for making you the righteous person He wants you to be.

While material things have their place in life, Jesus points to our true priority. A man may accrue many things in life — houses, cars, money, and collections of various sorts. While there may be nothing wrong with those things in themselves, such material things cannot be — and must not be — our priority.

King Solomon was a man who accrued all manner of material things. But hear his words in Ecclesiastes 5:11. "So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes." Sometimes, the things we own have very little value except to look at. That can be said of pieces of art or of various collections (coins, watches, automobiles, sports memorabilia, etc.). It can even be said of a bank account where money is accrued but never used--and there is no plan to use it. There may be days when these things are only good to look at!

Men, do not let any of those things have the first priority in your life! Seek God as your first priority! If you put any of these other things first, they will become the god that you worship. If you put material things first, you may wind up neglecting your role as a husband and father. God expects you to put your family in a special place!

That brings me to today's primary thought: Be a good dad. Be a good husband and father. Few roles in life are more important or more rewarding. What a blessing it is to bring children into this world. Solomon said, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalms 127:3).

A wise man said, "The best gift you can give your children is to love their mother." What did he mean by that? First, you set an example before your kids that they can follow later in life. Second, your kids can grow up in a loving home, which promotes their well-being. Third, it is God's plan for you -- as the head of your family -- to love your wife (the mother of your children). See Ephesians 5:25-29. "Husbands, love your wives..."

I suspect you can think of more reasons why men need to have their priorities straight regarding these things. But let me just close with this exhortation: "Men, be real men! Be all that God intended. Love your wife. Be faithful to her. Love your children. Be a real father and bring them up in God's way." God will bless you for that.