Three Blessings From a Father’s Treasure

The Treasure of Strength

Society throughout the millennia has taught men to be strong. However, too often the idea of strength was devoid of commission and control by the One true God.

So David presented the stark reality of the future: “I go the way of all the earth.” I see humility within that short sentence, for David realized though he had generally followed the Lord, he had a sinful nature like everyone else (Romans 5:12). Physical death awaited him, yet he entrusted his spirit to his merciful Judge (Psalm 31:5).

As he charged Solomon, “Be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man,” he immediately focused upon the source of the strength that shall prevail: “ and keep the charge of the LORD thy God…” In stating this, he fixated in Solomon’s mind the fact,  though he was a man and theoretically strong, he needed to look to God alone despite the rampant moral decay and idolatry within the world.

The Treasure of Spirituality

David’s statement also emphasized the truth that each person is fundamentally a spirit creature, and one that needs to depend upon his Creator. In so doing, he had to keep, that is obey, the charge of the Lord as recorded in the Sacred Law.

This, of course, was before Messiah came to redeem us from our sinful nature. We now have available to us the blessing of Christ, Who fulfilled the Law and can release its principles in our lives if we permit Him. While many men might be good fathers, surrender to Christ will bring about the fruits of the Holy Spirit to nourish their children.

This is far more important than providing for the whims and wants of our offspring. The Spirit of Christ shapes us into the people that we need to be as He, with our cooperation, crushes ungodly manifestations and produces godly fruit that nourishes unto Eternal Life.

The Treasure of True Success

Obedience to God has many rewards. So Solomon was reminded to obey God, “that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” This principle is even more potent in our time because Christ has come and His life is made available to us. Considering the phrase, “whithersoever thou turnest thyself,” through Christ it is now possible to be directed and empowered by His Spirit. The best prosperity anyone can have is to be totally dissolved in Christ, and Christ filling one’s life.

Even the best of dads have their shortcomings and deal with a sin nature. However, in Christ, all can be new. Making Christ truly our King changes us, and places within us the riches of God–riches to bless our children with.