Our Good Father

The other night I came across the passage in 1 Timothy 3:4-5 (NIV) concerning requirements for overseers in church leadership:  "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)"  When I observe the interactions of children with their parents, the behaviour of the child demonstrates clearly if they have been made to obey their parents or if they have been permitted to disobey.  I remember a somewhat amusing situation years ago when it was very apparent a child was used to doing what he wanted, and because I was a guest in the home I received quite a show of consternation from a parent when he willfully disobeyed.  The behaviour of the child when I was present provided a strong indication of a lack of discipline from his parents when I was not present.  It is the duty of all parents--and especially those in church leadership--that they teach their children to obey them.

Paul made the point that if parents are not faithful to attend to their own house and the management of the children God has given made them stewards of, they are not suitable candidates for church leadership.  This aligns with a principle Jesus taught in Luke 16:10:  "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 4:2 what servants and masters both knew, that it is required that stewards--those who were given a charge and responsibility by their superior--be proved faithful.  A servant who wasted his master's goods would be let go, but the one who was faithful to do a small thing well would be given additional responsibilities like Joseph who served Potiphar and Pharaoh.

The strong, inescapable implication is God is able to manage His own kingdom and family well, and He sees to it His children learn to obey Him.  We can make the mistake of wholesale blaming parents of disobedient and rebellious children, yet the Scripture is full of examples of God's people rebelling from their perfect heavenly Father.  We see the great lengths God went to in love of His people, how He guided them by His word, sent prophets to teach them, and disciplined them with trials to correct and restore them to Himself.  Like all good parents, God made clear His expectations of what He desired to see in His people and consequences should they disobey Him.  When they failed to meet His expectations and shirked their God-given directives, He addressed Israel like a landowner who discovered the vineyard he planted at great expense was not bearing any fruit.  From of their own mouths and by their own deeds God judged them--with love, mercy and compassion they refused to extend to those who were unprofitable.

In a parable Jesus told, He appealed to the understood order in society between a servant and master.  It was customary for the servants to serve their master first, and after he had eaten then they could eat.  Jesus said concerning the master in Luke 17:9-10, "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  The context of the parable was in relation to disciples of Jesus forgiving those who sinned against them.  We should not expect to be thanked or commended by God when we forgive others, for that is our God-given duty to do.  If we lacked a gracious Father in heaven who loves, forgives and gives grace to us, it might be understandable for us to hold grudges or slander others.  God's expectations for His redeemed people is spelled out for us in Ephesians 4:31-32:  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  When we obey and do what is right it is not because we are good children, but because we have a good Father in heaven.