A Fathers Choice

A Fathers Choice

Joshua 24: 14,15

Intro: The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which of them should have the present. "Who is the most obedient?" he asked. "Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?" Five small voices answered in unison. "Okay, dad, you get the toy."

. A little boy was asked to explain what Fathers day was and he said that it is just like mother’s day except you don’t spend as much money.

.We don’t see men with new clothes and corsages and everybody gathering together to celebrate Fathers day.

. We don’t see the church full on father’s day like we do on mother’s day.

. It’s not because fathers aren’t as important as mothers, it’s just that we are different isn’t it guys.

. You see Fathers play a different role in the family than mothers do.

. Fathers are supposed to be the leaders, the head of the family. The king of the household if you will.

. Back when my children were growing up we had a democracy in our household. There was no King. We all had a vote. Pam had one vote, Dj had one vote, Andrew had one vote and I being the dad had 4 votes. Now that’s my kind of democracy.

. The sad reality is that many, many men have abdicated the throne in their home.

. They have either given it to their wives or they have ran away and the mother must accept the role out of sheer necessity.

. Folks that’s not how God intended for the family unit to operate.

.God’s intent was for the Father to be an integral part of the family unit. Without the father, the unit breaks down.

. I don’t want to bore you with a lot of statistics this morning but I want to share some with you to help us understand the crisis that this world is in.

. 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.

. 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes.

. 71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father.

. 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

. 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.

. 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

. 75% of adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.

. 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions have no father.

. 85% of youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.

. Fatherless boys and girls are: twice as likely to drop out of high school; twice as likely to end up in jail; four times more likely to need help for emotional or behavioral problems.

. Are you starting to understand the importance of fathers in the family?

. Dad, you are an integral part of the family. It is hard to survive without you.

. That’s how important you are.

. We hear about wars in foreign countries and wars on drugs and political wars.

. Folks the war is for the very survival of the family unit.

. What is at stake is our children and their future.

. Dad you are the glue that God says is to hold the family together.

. All throughout scripture we see commands about the family and they always start out with Father.

. Dads, we must consciously make the decision to follow God’s instruction when it comes to our family.

. Our scripture this morning tells us about a man who made a decision that his family would follow God’s instructions.

. Joshua took over as the leader of the Jewish nation after Moses had died and had led the people into the Promised Land.

. They had had their ups and downs in following God but at this time they were in a good place in their relationship with God.

. Joshua was getting on in years and he made one last address to the people and how they were to serve God and raise their families.

. He knew that the new land had some alluring aspects and he was telling them that they must decide how they and their household would live.

. Will you live serving the Lord or will you let the world influence how you live and raise your family.

. Our scripture is Joshua 24: 14-15

14“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone.

15But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”