News · 07.15.2010 Father to the Fatherless

Father to the Fatherless

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Psalm 10:14


We live in an age where many fathers are not a regular part of their children’s lives. Some kids don’t even know their fathers, some just see them periodically for a visit and some just live under the same roof together. There are consequences in our world due to a generation growing up fatherless.

In a survey on child health, the National Center for Health Statistics in Washington, D.C., found that “fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy and criminality.” Through this we see that fatherhood matters.

Being a youth pastor, housefather at a Christian maternity home, and especially being a father of four, has shown me the need of living as a positive male role model. Many of the girls that come to us at LifeHouse have only had horrific examples of what a man is in their lives. They have found neglect, abuse and selfishness instead of unconditional love, acceptance, protection and provision.

In a world where people don’t want to “get involved” in other people’s lives whether it is due to the risk, not caring, too busy to notice or maybe too overwhelmed to know what to do, we find ourselves faced with the reality of the heart of God found in the above Scripture. God demonstrates His love for us by not only seeing our trouble and grief but stepping into action to do something about it. How cool is that!

As men, God wants us to do something about the fatherless culture we are living in. We are to be providers, protectors, respectful, selfless, attentive of and caring for the women and children in our lives and around us. That is the Father-heart of God for this generation.

As men, we have an opportunity to recreate a new understanding of what a man really should be by modeling Christ, unconditional love and responsibility with no strings attached.

It’s time for us men to rise up with the heart of God, see the trouble and grief of those around us and do something about it. We all can be fathers to the fatherless. It doesn’t matter if your kids are grown, if you still have your own kids living with you or have never had kids. If you are a godly man, there are kids that need your “fatherly” influence in their lives. Don’t underestimate the difference you can make. We may not be able to change the world but we can change a life.