Reading Through The New Testament – October 4, 2016 - 2 Timothy 1 Fatherless.
I just did a google search on “The Fatherless Generation” — a term I’d heard a few times about the epidemic of so many growing up without present fathers.
The second link was an article under that same name on relevant.com from back in 2009. Here’s an excerpt:
Kids from fatherless homes are five times more likely to be poor, and 10 times more likely to be extremely poor. Kids from fatherless homes are twice as likely to be high-school dropouts, girls are three times more likely to be unwed teenage mothers, 90 percent of runaways come from fatherless homes, and three out of four teen suicides come from fatherless environments. About 70 percent of men in prison come from fatherless homes. I speak a lot on the prisons, and when I talk to men, I survey them. When I ask them not only if they came from a home without a dad at all but if they had a poor role model for a father figure, it bumps that number up to about 90 percent.
On Sunday we read in Isaiah 1 where God says to defend the cause of the Fatherless.
What is our calling as the church to respond to generations of children growing up without fathers?
Paul does it here in 2 Timothy one.
Listen to what Paul says about Timothy and his family:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Tim 1:5
One key figure in Timothy’s family is missing; where is his father?
What about his father’s faith?
This omission tells us a lot. Timothy’s father was not an example of faith in his life. He was either absent or not supportive of Timothy’s faith.
Paul’s response?
He steps in place of Timothy’s father and treats him as his own son. He encourages him, walks him through the challenges he faces, calls him to be brave and trust God, and calls him “my dear son.”
Paul gives Timothy the responsibility of leading the church in Ephesus. He trusts him, believes in him…
Paul doesn’t let Timothy grow up without a father…
And neither should we.
Who around us needs parental guidance and isn’t able to get it from their family?
Who can we love like our own children?
Who needs adoption?
Actual adoption, or a spiritual adoption.
Who needs you to come along side them and say “If I were your Dad/Mom I would be so proud of you?”
