Father: Failure or Success?Luke 15:11-16

Father: Failure or Success?Today is Father’s Day, the day we say thanks to our fathers who raised us

It’s also our Heavenly Father’s Day as well

Today we want to spend some time thinking about fathers and what it is to be a good one

Father: Failure or Success?One of the major problems in society today is that many fathers are absent from the lives of their children

Perhaps because of that we tend to judge fathers rather harshly

Are all fathers this bad?

Father: Failure or Success?At first glance, by today’s standards, it might seem like the father of the prodigal son was a failure

All we seem to know about his son was that he seemed like a partier

His father also appeared to be an enabler, giving him money to do it

Father: Failure or Success?As we’ve learned before, you cannot judge someone’s life by a snapshot

We know from the entire story that the father of the prodigal son was in fact a good father

What made him a good father is that which makes us good fathers as well

Father: Failure or Success?1. He was a good provider

◦This alone does not make a good father

◦However, it is important and a key to being a good father

◦He certainly provided for the basic needs of his family (and beyond)

◦I Timothy 5:8

Father: Failure or Success?1. He was a good provider

◦The cost of raising a child is around $300,000

◦There is a great deal of sacrifice made by many fathers

◦Here was a man who was not scared to work hard for his family’s sake

Father: Failure or Success?2. Did not think evil of his son

◦When his son asked for the inheritance, his father did not accuse him or speak evil of him

◦Perhaps this father trusted his upbringing

◦I Corinthians 13:7 – believes & hopes all things

Father: Failure or Success?3. He taught his son right & wrong◦It’s obvious that the father had done his best to teach his son right from wrong

◦It’s obvious in the son’s reaction to his situation

◦He knew he had to work, even if it was feeding pigs

Father: Failure or Success?3. He taught his son right & wrong◦His conscience weighed heavily upon him

◦He had the humility to go home and ask to be a servant

◦He also admitted to his sin and wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness

Father: Failure or Success?3. He taught his son right & wrong◦“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6)

◦The father had done his job in training up his son

◦Now it was time for the son to put it all together

Father: Failure or Success?4. He was a compassionate father

◦Many feel as though men are not supposed to show emotion

◦Often times on television and in movies dads are seen as emotionless

◦So many boys grow up thinking that is what it means to be a “man”

Father: Failure or Success?4. He was a compassionate father◦This father was different◦He ran to meet his son◦He fell on his neck and kissed him, no doubt shedding a few tears

◦He showed compassion instead of anger at an important moment

Father: Failure or Success?5. He was a forgiving father

◦Some fathers may have wanted to hold on to their forgiveness for a while

◦Some may have felt the need to lecture or may not have been sure the lesson was learned

◦This father forgave without question

Father: Failure or Success?5. He was a forgiving father

◦It wasn’t just that he forgave, but he treated his son like royalty upon his return (vs. 21-23)

◦He rejoiced over his son’s return◦There were no lectures, no hard feelings, just forgiveness

Father: Failure or Success?6. He was a loving father

◦Virtually everything this father does in this story screams of his love for his family

◦The fact that he provided for them

◦The fact that even his servants were well taken care of

Father: Failure or Success?6. He was a loving father

◦The love and compassion he showed toward both of his sons

◦Don’t forget about the emotion he was willing to display when seeing his son return home

◦Fathers need to love their children, and not be afraid to show it!