A Father’s Respect

“A Father’s Respect”
Genesis 4:1-8

INTRODUCTION

A) Respect meaning

  • Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “respect;” 1. to show or feel honor esteem for; hold in high regard To show consideration for.
  • I have said many times that “respect” is something you earn. Just because you are a father, a president, a pastor, a war hero, or leader of any kind does not mean that you automatically receive respect. It is earned by the character you possess and the heart for which acts are done in your life.

 

I. How To Earn Respect

  A) Always doing what is right earns respect

  • If a person does the right thing (According to God, not man), then He will get respect from God and those around you.
  • Doing the right thing according to man’s philosophy and standard will earn respect from your piers but not always God’s respect.
  • Our FIRST example was in Genesis 4:4…And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
  • Why did the Lord “respect” Abel’s offering? Because Abel did the right thing. Able was doing what God commanded in the offering.
  • Abel offered the “firstlings” of his flock (God’s requirement for an offering, the first). By the way, God has always required “the first” product of your earnings. First lamb of the flock, first fruits of your harvest, the first money of your earned wages.

B) Not doing what is right earns no respect

  • Now look at Genesis 4:5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
  • God did not respect Cain’s offering because Cain did not do as he was told. Cain did not do the right thing.
  • God required a blood sacrifice of the first lamb of his own flock for an offering to God.
  • It doesn’t say here in the Bible how many sheep Cain or Abel had. Now, my guess would be that Abel spent most of his time nurturing and building a good flock of sheep.
  • I would venture to say Cain raise the bare minimum allowed to raise sheep and focused mostly on the garden. His life’s toil was in the garden to produce fruits and veggies that he desired to have and didn’t even think of God’s requirement.
  • In verse 7, we can see God explaining to the young men (Cain and Abel) that if you don’t do what God tells you… “sin lieth at the door.” What God means is that you have sin in your heart. The entrance to salvation and damnation is through the heart.
  • When we do not do the right thing or when we do not do as God has commanded, we will receive no respect from God, other people, our family, our children, or spouse.

C) Other examples of respect

  • Exodus 2:25…And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
  • Why did God have respect for Israel in this verse? The answer lies in Exodus 2:23…And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • When it says “…the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage” it means that they groaned, mourned their sin and suffered through their bondage. The word “sighed” is translated from the Hebrew word “ʾānaḥ.” Meaning mourn, or groaning.
  • God had respect for them because they mourned their sin, they were truly sorry for their sin and mourned. They did not get angry with God, act rebellious or hateful towards others…they mourned. They did the right thing in God’s eyes.
  • Man today always has to “get even.” They seek revenge. God says to mourn, show Him that you are truly sorry for your sin.
  • God also had respect (to honor) unto Israel for the covenant He made with them.

II. A Father Earns Respect By Doing What God Requires

  A) Honoring God’s Commands

  • What are God’s commands for a father?
  1. To be in subjection (obedient) to God. Hebrews 12:9…Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
  2. Don’t do things that make your children angry. Colossians 3:21…Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. The word anger here means to not stir up or irritate.
  3. Continuous discipline and instruction of God. Ephesians 6:4 …And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (chastening, discipline) and admonition (instruction, mild rebuke) of the Lord.
  4. Endure (work through it) When God is bringing judgment or visits His children (Parents), it is important that the parents work through the difficulty of judgment or chastening. Hebrews 12:7…If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
  5. Exhort, comfort, and charge your children. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 …As ye know how we exhorted (and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,” Paul used these three words to describe his personal relationship towards the Thessalonians since they were his children in the faith. SBBC members…you are my children in the faith. A father is supposed to give his children a personal touch, such as God gives us, a father gives His children and a pastor gives his flock the following three…
  6. Exhort – to call near, invite to (act in a way that causes them to want to be around you) Show a sterness in discipline but yet a loving heart.
  • God’s ways cause us to desire Him near us, and in us. A father must act and discipline and live himself in a way that brings all the honor and glory to his God.
  • Comfort – to console or encourage, make others feel better. How does God make us feel better? How does God comfort us? Through the “comforter,” (The Holy Spirit)
  • Charge – to be a witness of, have a good report (witness of Christ being in you and your family) It is a father’s duty that other people witness God living in you through your actions, beliefs, and talk. A father will want his children to be a good testimony of Jesus Christ being Lord of your life.
  • Sacrifice of self to give to the family. John 10:15…As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. A father that loves his family will make sacrifices to give them what is necessary.

III. God Our Father, Has Earned Our Respect

  A) Because He always does what is right

  • God does not judge us… Jesus Christ does that because we belong to Him.
  • John 5:22…For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
  • God has given Christ the responsibility of judging His sheep. God’s sheep are the Jews. All other nationalities and races are Gentiles. We are judged by Jesus who purchased us with His blood.
  • God could say… “I’m the boss and what I say goes. Let me judge these stubborn ones because you are too tenderhearted Son.” No he doesn’t say that. God does what is right and he doesn’t change his mind. He gave the Gentile nation and “whosoever believeth in Him” to His Son Jesus Christ and He judges his own redeemed.
  • Revelation 15:3…And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
  • 1 Samuel 12:7…Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
  • Ezra 9:15…O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous:
  • Psalm 116:5…Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is
  • Psalm 119:137…Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138) Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
  • Fathers… take note of this verse Proverbs 29:2…When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. When you as a father (in authority) do what is right, ruling your family as God would, then your family will be happy. You will cause them to rejoice. BUT, when you rule your house in a bad way, not according to God’s rules…The family is unhappy and will not respect you at all.
  • God is Gracious in His judgment, and so should the fathers of his family judge.