Fatherhood: Privilege and Responsibility

Scripture teaches Fatherhood. God the Father started Fatherhood and models it in His relationship with His Son and human sons and daughters. Recently, President Biden said, “These are our kids. . . . Not somebody else's kids; they're all our kids.” Never does the Bible say that children, or anyone for that matter, belong to the government.

God the Father said in Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine.” In a sense, every child is God’s child. Everyone belongs to Him. Uniquely, of course, John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” All souls are children of God in that they belong to Him. Uniquely, those who receive God’s Son become a child of God.

Furthermore, however, Fathers possess their children. A child is His Father’s child. Scripture presents this as both a privilege and a responsibility for a Father. Genesis 18:19 shows Abraham an example: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Notice, “his children.” What follows is a responsibility. Yet, it’s also a privilege, because Psalm 127:3 among many places says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” God privileges a man with children – they’re a reward – but He also describes them as a responsibility. They are his as both.