1. TREMENDOUS VALUE OF A HUSBAND AND FATHER

Many people in our culture believe that fatherhood isn’t important or is obsolete. But a husband and a father can make a great difference in their family by using the strengths and skills God has given them. Your strengths Cherishing “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church” (Ephesians 5:29). When you “cherish” someone or something, you treat it as something of great value. God has given husbands the command — and strength — to cherish their wives. Your wife wants desperately to know that you see her value and she wants to be reminded of it often. Encouraging “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV). Life is difficult. It’s easy to lose heart and get discouraged. When you encourage your wife, you give her courage and determination. Your encouragement affirms your spouse and helps her say, “I can do this!” despite the challenges. God the Father knew the power of encouragement. He publicly praised His Son, Jesus, at the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Mark 1:11 tells us, “A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” Imagine the difference it would make in your family if each person knew how much you loved and appreciated them. Protecting Husbands protect their families from bugs, rodents, noises at night, angry family members, spiritual attacks — everything that is a threat. The biblical story of Ruth introduces us to a man named Boaz. Boaz is a shining example by protecting Ruth even before she became his wife. “Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you?” (Ruth 2:8-9) God has uniquely created men to be successful protectors of their families and therefore husbands need to protect their wives and treat them with honour. Provider Another strength God has placed within the hearts of men is to provide for his family. Again, Boaz shows this trait: “And at mealtime, Boaz said to her, ‘Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.’ So, she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some leftover” (Ruth 2:14). Most men have an innate desire to work hard to support the financial needs of their families. But this doesn’t mean that they should focus exclusively on building a career. Sure, God wants men to provide financially for their families, but He also wants them to provide spiritually and emotionally — to love their wives unconditionally and be fully present. Paul underscores the importance of this in his instructions to Timothy: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Dad, you really do matter! Men matter — as fathers, husbands, and individuals created by a loving God. You are the only person on the planet who can love your wife the ways she deeply desires to be loved — fully and completely with all of your heart. Your work — cherishing, sacrificing, and encouraging — makes a difference. No matter what our culture says, you are not “unnecessary” or a “failure.” God sees you – and your role as husband and father — as vitally important. Use the gifts and strengths he has given you and cheer on your wife. Make her laugh. Wipe her tears. Hug her tight. Encourage her to succeed and keep going strong. Adapted from “Focus on the Family”.