For some, Father’s Day is a time to celebrate and be thankful for their dads. For others, it’s a painful reminder of disappointment and hurt. You might not like your dad or even know your dad, but you do have one. And chances are that either his presence or absence greatly affects who you are today.
This is because God created fathers to be leaders and we generally look up to the leaders in our lives. We often expect them to be perfect and take it hard when they disappoint us. As a father and a leader myself, I want to take seriously my God-given roles. I know I can’t be perfect, but I do want to be the best father and leader I can possibly be.
I’ve read many books and attended classes and seminars on both parenting and leadership. But what if after all of the seminars and books, I still end up being a disappointment to God? If I want to be God’s kind of husband, father, pastor, and leader, then I really should be looking at what the Bible has to say about leadership.
This is exactly what we’re going to do this weekend at Family Church. We’ll be doing a Bible study in 1 Corinthians 4 where Paul tells us the qualities we should look for in our leaders and strive to have as leaders. The bottom line is: the gospel turns our leadership ideas upside down.
The world sees leaders like celebrated conquerors; God says we often look like humiliated captives. The world sees leaders like honored scholars; God says his leaders often look fools. The world says a leader has a place at the table; God says his leaders are often treated like scum of the earth. The world sees leaders as ruthless autocrats; God says his leaders are like loving fathers. The world says leaders achieve all they can for themselves; God says his leaders lay down their lives like Jesus did.
Father’s Day is a time to be thankful for the fathers and father figures that we do have but to also challenge ourselves to become the kind of leaders that God asks us to be. What will we do this Father’s Day to demonstrate gospel living to those who look up to us?