The scripture from which the title of this article is taken is found in 1 Corinthians 4:15: “Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers.” Corinth was a proud, wealthy and educated city; it was also morally a corrupt place. Yet when Paul first visited that city, the Lord could say to him, “I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:1010For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10)). Under the Lord’s protection, Paul was able to stay there a year and a half, and there was a great deal of blessing. However, there were false teachers (probably most of them were Jews) who despised Paul, as not being an impressive man, either in speech or bodily presence. They tried to take over the work of the Lord in Corinth, and the pride and worldliness among the believers there constituted them fit subjects to be seduced by them.
In writing to them, Paul had to correct many wrong practices in the assembly there, but as to himself, he answered all their criticisms in grace, taking the low place. If they despised his person, he said in effect, “I didn’t want you to be occupied with me anyway.” He sought to point them to Christ, while reminding them of his labors among them and his care for them. Many of those who were ready to instruct the Corinthian saints were teaching a worldly form of Christianity that wanted to mix the grace of God with a loose walk, after the thoughts of the natural man. As a result, Paul has to categorize the saints there as being carnal, and not yet spiritual enough for deeper truths that he would gladly have taught them.
A Rejected Christ
Among other things, Paul reminded the Corinthians that we follow a rejected Christ and that God had chosen the apostles to share this despised place perhaps more than any others. Paul had suffered the loss of all things, while they were reigning as kings (1 Cor. 4:8). They were enjoying life down here, while he had labored with his own hands to support himself. They were taking a proud and exalted place in this world, while the apostles were made “as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things” (1 Cor. 4:13). In all this he does not defend himself, but addresses them as “his beloved sons” (1 Cor. 4:14) and reminds them of his character towards them — that of a father. They might have many instructors, and Paul does not dwell on the substance of that instruction, whether it was good or otherwise. But were there those who had the character of a father? No, they had not many fathers, and the same is true of the church today. Many may instruct, but how few care as a father!
A Heart of Love
There are characteristics of a father that no amount of mere instruction could give (although instruction would certainly form part of a father’s role). But a father would, first of all, have a heart that loved his children. Just as a natural father loves and cares for his children in a special way, so a spiritual father would have that love for those who had been given to him by the Lord, to nurture in the things of the Lord. While a good father has no favorites in his family, he does not treat every child in the same way. He takes a special interest in each one, teaching, admonishing and guiding according to that child’s temperament and ability.
Willingness
Second, a father is willing to use all the time and resources at his disposal in order to see his child go on well and develop in a right way. No effort is too great, no expense too extravagant, if it will benefit that child in the right way. And Paul had done this for the Corinthians, with a tender care that only a walk with the Lord could have taught him. He could say of the Thessalonians, “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thess. 2:7). Was this Paul’s natural character? No, for he could describe himself in his unsaved days as having been “an insolent overbearing man” (1 Tim. 1:13 JND). Yet the grace of God had made him into one who could look at the saints with the heart of Christ. He never had natural children, but he acquired the loving disposition of a father towards his spiritual children and was willing to give all that he had to see them advance in spiritual growth.
No Wrongs Overlooked
Third, a true father does not overlook that which is wrong and ultimately detrimental to the child, even though it might be easier for that child in the short term. In raising children, it is easier to pass over wrongdoing, rather than go through the pain of having to administer punishment. This is true among believers too, for it is easier to avoid facing problems among the saints, rather than confronting those who need correction. A true father’s love will not shrink from dealing with such things, while feeling very much the pain and burden of it all.
In connection with dealing with wrong, a father with experience will exhibit tenderness and understanding, while not palliating the evil. Having walked with the Lord, he has learned the tendencies of his own heart and how easily he too can be tempted. He is willing to “eat the sin offering” and to identify himself with the sin into which others have fallen. He has learned the ways of the world and also “the sin which doth so easily beset us.” He does not treat failure in a cold, legal way, but rather with tears and with sorrow, as he feels the sin in the Lord’s presence. But he seeks restoration and blessing, for he has also learned the grace of God.
Walk With the Lord
Fourth, he knows the Word of God and, by walking with the Lord, knows how to apply the Word to different situations and different individuals. This is not merely head knowledge, for a proper reading of the Word brings us into the Lord’s presence and leads to a knowledge of Christ Himself. We are drawn closer to Christ Himself and have His thoughts about all that we encounter in this world. Souls are drawn to one with a father’s heart, just as children are drawn to a natural father who loves and cares for them.
Inspiration for Following Christ
Finally, a true father inspires us to want to follow Christ. He does not seek to attract to himself, although souls are attracted to him, but his joy in the Lord causes others to want what he has. Thus he ministers far more by his spirit and attitude than by what he says.
Such fathers are much to be desired in the assembly, although they are rare. In saying this, we would not overlook the need for mothers in the assembly too, for a true spiritual mother is also rare. But for the moment we are considering fathers and their character.
Some may ask, “What if there are no fathers in our assembly?” In these last days, when there is much disorder and confusion among the people of God, there are often situations where helps and gifts that would normally be present are not there. But if we are gathered together in His name, He is still in the midst. As Son over His own house, He will surely provide for His people. Whatever lack there may be, if we look to Him, He will make it up to us. Of course, we can pray that He will raise up fathers among us, but if, because of the failure of man, these are not present as they should be, surely our Lord Jesus is the same “yesterday, and today, and forever,” and His Father is our Father too.
W. J. Prost