Father Knows Best

Back in the 1950's Father Knows Best was a popular family TV program. The thought behind the program was when all else fails, the father of the family knew what was best. But today I wonder how many children and teenagers would still believe or agree with that statement?

It seems like many things in the world have gone downhill since the 50's, but then they were probably already headed that way; most of us just didn't realize it, however, it has become more and more apparent in recent decades. Relationships of every kind seem to be falling apart, blown up or just gone crazy. The wisdom and the blessings of fatherhood is lacking.

There are times in life we have also missed the heavenly Father's gifts of wisdom and other blessings, because of rebellions or human preferences. We have become a society with too many choices to chose from, so many in fact that we have become spoiled. Back when the automobile was first made the saying went, "you can have it in any color you want, as long as it is black."

Today, many things we purchase comes in varieties of colors, shapes and sizes. Such things as houses, cars, boats, phones, appliances, electronic items, foods, pets and so much more. But in the process of having such a variety we have also become much more picky. As a result of this bad habit we often no longer appreciate or care for certain things. This not only applies to material things, but also our choice or choices in people, friends, mates, locations, tastes, styles of worship and even our attitudes toward the weather.

Choices are nice to have but when we begin to refuse something because it doesn't meet our preferences or wants, then we to run into problems. Many mothers are frustrated because their children won't eat what the rest of the family eats, or they don't want to play the same games or watch the same TV programs /movies as the rest of the family, or do what they are told. As adults we are not much different. After all where do you think the kids got their attitude and bad habits from?

The father is the gatekeeper. He is responsible for what he allows in the house—directly or indirectly—because of what he says, does or permits. (This also applies to husbands.) Whether it is watching TV or what the children see in other children or adults. Without the father's proper guidance children will go astray. As adults we've been the same way when we don't listen to the Heavenly Father. The old saying, "Monkey see monkey do," hasn't changed for most people. If the world is our role model there will be problems.

Another area is our preferences, such as music, art and nature. God is the inspiration behind all of it, but much has been perverted by satan. God inspired the words, sounds, textures and shades of colors. God loves variety. He created it, in every flower, tree, animal, person, stars and planets. Look at all the beautiful and different varieties of flowers and trees that are intended to praise and worship God, just as all nations were meant to. Is it right for us to say one is better or worse than another just because they doesn't meet our approval or our personal preferences? Or is it right to reject the new, because the old seems better? God sees the heart of every individual that is singing and dancing before him, and He loves it all. We should learn to broaden our taste for worship, music, foods and every color in the rainbow.

There is nothing wrong with our preferences. We all have them. Yet we shouldn't limit them or else we could miss out on the finer things in life. How often I have heard people said they hated something that other people just love. Such as clothes or car styles, foods or colors. Can you imagine sitting across the dinner table from Jesus, and your father just gave thanks for the food and then someone says, I hate peas or I hate tomatoes. I know it sounds foolish, but people do it all the time, and not just when referring to foods. God created everything including the rain; and when we speak of hating them, it's offensive. We need to watch our words more carefully if we are truly giving thanks or being thankful.

I believe, we should teach children to embrace a broader spectrum of things by us setting the example. However, at the same time I think it would be wise to limit the number of things and gifts we give them, in order to teach them to appreciate what they already have. Adults should do the same. But, many children and adults don't like restrictions. And therein lies the problem. God's ways are aways different from man's.

God in his wisdom knows his children need guidance. The first commandment regarding children, was for them to honor (obey) their parents, that it might go well with them. While the children of Israel were in the desert they were taught by the heavenly Father, YHWH. They were given very few choices. They were limited in their clothes, what they ate, drank, and how they worshiped God. They were also limited where they went as they needed to follow the cloud through the desert, it was for their protection day and night. God was trying to teach them all certain principles of obedience, submission and appreciation. Because Father God knew what was best for them. And he expected them to obey or they were disciplined. (Which a good father does.) There were also serious consequences for rebellion.

Once they entered the Promised Land they were given more freedom of choice, but still under certain guidelines. Anyone who wanted to become an Israelite could, as long as they accepted and obeyed the commandments, laws and covenants of God and their restrictions.

Jesus was no different. Jesus told people that he only did and said what his Father did and said. He also taught His disciples the ways of the Father. When Jesus sent them out the first time they were very limited as to what they could take on their journey and where they could go or stay. At the end of Jesus' ministry the same disciples were less restricted and were told to go to every nation teaching them what they had been taught. The last commandment that Jesus gave his disciples was the commandment of love and not just obedience. That should be our ultimate guideline. (God always has certain restrictions for our well-being.) Everything was to be done in love and they still are to be done in love.

Today, it should still be the same for all of God's children. We are still expected to love and "follow the cloud," the Spirit of Christ. Yet, there are still the same temptations, if not more. Even when we go to a buffet restaurant we are free to choose, but we should choose that which is good for us, and not a little or a lot of everything else. The same thing applies for everything else in life. God has guidelines for what we do and what we receive. We need to listen to Jesus, so we can pick and choose what he wants for us and His church.

When we are given something by God we should accept it, even if it isn't our favorite color and be grateful for it. In the future he will give us more freedom to choose. A number of years ago God provided a house for us to live in, and another time a truck for us to drive. Neither were our preferences, but we were thankful. As we learned to be thankful and obey, God gave us the money to design and build a house and to purchase the kind and color of car we both liked. We still chose what we believed he wanted, instead of doing something lavish or foolish.

When we, as God's children, are faithful in the little things, then God is willing to trust us with more. This happens in the process of becoming His sons and daughters. And in the end we will hear him say, " Well done my good and faithful servant." And to my sons, "Everything I have is yours," because you have learned that Father knows best.