Paul Writes to Fathers Colossians 3:21

Paul the apostle knew it was imperative for the Colossian church member to have unity within the church. Relationships often impede cohesion, so Paul wrote to them concerning the relationships between wives and their husbands, husbands and wives, and parents to children. In chapter three and verse twenty-one of his letter, Paul addressed the fathers and their behavior toward their children where we read:

Fathers, provoke not your children (to anger), lest they be discouraged.

The verse begins, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,” Without doubt we know to whom Paul is writing this verse - “Fathers”. Those men to whom the Heavenly Father gave the privilege of being “Fathers” no doubt tuned in when this verse was read to them. Paul's charge to them is interesting, “provoke not” which means “do not stir up, excite or stimulate” “your children” or “offspring”. The words “(to anger)” are in parenthesis which means they were added by the interpreters , but the idea is to “exasperate or provoke” children to the point of being angry.

The verse continues, “lest they be discouraged.” Paul gave a specific reason for fathers not to “provoke” their children, “lest” or “unless” “they be discouraged” which means “disheartened, dispirited or broken in spirit”. In other words, fathers who provoke their children to the point of anger will often destroy the spirit within those children, and this leads to great disunity and disharmony within the home.

Perhaps as we meditate upon these words of Paul, we find ourselves in one of several or more positions. We may be fathers, or we may be thinking of our fathers. It might be that we are thinking about someone else's father or a child who was disheartened by their father. Wherever the Lord Jesus leads us in our thoughts concerning this verse, let us be yielded to the Holy Spirit and His direction. We all have certainly been children of fathers, and it might be that someone fit into that role during our upbringing, but we know the importance of not provoking children in such a manner that we destroy their spirits. Let us be reminded of Psalm 127:1

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

They're His kids, and we should take great concern in the manner in which we raise them.

Next time Paul writes to servants, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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