When the British Coucil asked 40,000 residents of non-English speaking countries to choose their favorite word, the word chosen as the most beautiful was said to have been “mother.” “Passion,” “smile,” “love,” “eternity,” and more followed in the ranks, and the word “father” was said to have been at the bottom of the choice of 70 words.
A father has the responsibility of demonstrating to his family who God is through his life. The love that will protect us to the very end, the love that watches us like the apple of his eye. This love of God needs to be delivered to our children through the fathers.
If we look in the Talmud, the laws that have sustained the Jewish population for over 5,000 years, it is written, “Because God could not take care of all that he created in this world, he created fathers.” It is said that when God first created woman, the reason He did not make her out of man’s head was so that man could not dominate over her. And the woman was not made out of man’s feet because she should not become man’s slave. It is said that the reason woman was made out of man’s rib was so that she would always be near his heart. This is so that wives will have a heart of respect toward their husbands, and husbands will love their wives as though he is earnestly looking to recover his rib.
A biblical father is not only one who loves his wife and children, but also one who sweats and works hard for his family, one who sets the example of a beautiful life, one who goes forward to further nurture his family in and through faith.
(Rev. Jaewoong Chang’s article. Translator: Grace Ko)