Father: Failure or Success?

1. Father: Failure or Success? Luke 15:11-16

2. Father: Failure or Success? • Today is Father’s Day, the day we say thanks to our fathers who raised us • It’s also our Heavenly Father’s Day as well • Today we want to spend some time thinking about fathers and what it is to be a good one

17. Father: Failure or Success? • One of the major problems in society today is that many fathers are absent from the lives of their children • Perhaps because of that we tend to judge fathers rather harshly • Are all fathers this bad?

18. Father: Failure or Success? • At first glance, by today’s standards, it might seem like the father of the prodigal son was a failure • All we seem to know about his son was that he seemed like a partier • His father also appeared to be an enabler, giving him money to do it

19. Father: Failure or Success? • As we’ve learned before, you cannot judge someone’s life by a snapshot • We know from the entire story that the father of the prodigal son was in fact a good father • What made him a good father is that which makes us good fathers as well

20. Father: Failure or Success? • 1. He was a good provider • This alone does not make a good father • However, it is important and a key to being a good father • He certainly provided for the basic needs of his family (and beyond) • I Timothy 5:8

21. Father: Failure or Success? • 1. He was a good provider • The cost of raising a child is around $300,000 • There is a great deal of sacrifice made by many fathers • Here was a man who was not scared to work hard for his family’s sake

22. Father: Failure or Success? • 2. Did not thinkevil of his son • When his son asked for the inheritance, his father did not accuse him or speak evil of him • Perhaps this father trusted his upbringing • I Corinthians 13:7 – believes & hopes all things

23. Father: Failure or Success? • 3. He taught his son right & wrong • It’s obvious that the father had done his best to teach his son right from wrong • It’s obvious in the son’s reaction to his situation • He knew he had to work, even if it was feeding pigs

24. Father: Failure or Success? • 3. He taught his son right & wrong • His conscience weighed heavily upon him • He had the humility to go home and ask to be a servant • He also admitted to his sin and wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness

25. Father: Failure or Success? • 3. He taught his son right & wrong • “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6) • The father had done his job in training up his son • Now it was time for the son to put it all together

26. Father: Failure or Success? • 4. He was a compassionate father • Many feel as though men are not supposed to show emotion • Often times on television and in movies dads are seen as emotionless • So many boys grow up thinking that is what it means to be a “man”

27. Father: Failure or Success? • 4. He was a compassionate father • This father was different • He ran to meet his son • He fell on his neck and kissed him, no doubt shedding a few tears • He showed compassion instead of anger at an important moment

28. Father: Failure or Success? • 5. He was a forgiving father • Some fathers may have wanted to hold on to their forgiveness for a while • Some may have felt the need to lecture or may not have been sure the lesson was learned • This father forgave without question

29. Father: Failure or Success? • 5. He was a forgiving father • It wasn’t just that he forgave, but he treated his son like royalty upon his return (vs. 21-23) • He rejoiced over his son’s return • There were no lectures, no hard feelings, just forgiveness

30. Father: Failure or Success? • 6. He was a loving father • Virtually everything this father does in this story screams of his love for his family • The fact that he provided for them • The fact that even his servants were well taken care of

31. Father: Failure or Success? • 6. He was a loving father • The love and compassion he showed toward both of his sons • Don’t forget about the emotion he was willing to display when seeing his son return home • Fathers need to love their children, and not be afraid to show it!