“Set Your House in Order” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)

“ My father didn’t tell me to live; he lived and let me watch him do it”  “ My father didn’t tell me to live; he lived and let me watch him do it”  Clarence B.  Kelland

First of all, a very happy and blessed Father’s Day to all the fathers and also to my beloveth father, Guru Sademmeren Longkumer, Ungma, who is 91years old still living in good health.  “Father” or “Fatherhood” is the greatest gift for a man from God. Proverbs 23:22 says, “Listen to your father who gave you life”. The word “Father” is a name of great honour, a man who deserves respect. The biblical word for “father” would mean “great weight to, or to hold as valuable”. There is always “good” and “bad” in everything; so also there are both good and bad fathers too. History of Father’s Day tells us that Mrs. John Bruce Dodd, in 1909, remembered her father’s love and in 1924, Father’s Day was announced as a National holiday, to honour the fathers with the approval of the 30^th US President, Calvin Coolidge. Story says that Mrs. Dodd’s mother died early and it was her father who raised his eight children with lots of untold hardships and difficulties. He did not bother to marry another wife but sacrificed his life for his children. Because of Dodd’s father living testimony, we observe this special day in honour of the fathers of this world. The topic “Set Your House in Order” is a challenging topic for fathers of this generation.  Question arises, up to what extend are the fathers loyal to his family? Two years back, I was invited to be one of the resource persons in a Parenting Seminar along with a woman Educationists. She has stated that the latest census published by the government of Nagaland has the total population of 19,78,502. Out of which, male population is the highest number i.e., 10,24,649. However, 60 percent of the fathers are not holding proper responsibility at home. They leave everything to the mother. As a result, many children have communication gap with father especially, between father and son; therefore, at times mother is crushed and become a victim between them. If this is a common problem in our society, we should take preventive measures to overcome this problem.Nevertheless, I too know that there are many godly fathers in our society those who are giving their best in their sweet homes. Let me say boldly, my husband is one among them. I really thank God for having a wonderful husband and a caring father in my home sweet home. The Bible is very clear that because of a righteous father, God restored human race and this earth as well. This righteous man is none other than Noah (Genesis Chapters 6-9). He is the first man who build an Altar to God. We also find that Abraham became the father of God’s chosen nation due to his faithfulness (Genesis 13:16).  During the time of kings, we find that Hezekiah was a good father for the household of Judah. “He did…what was good and right and faithful before the Lord His God…he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21). He was considered the best king Judah had after David. There was a time when Hezekiah felt proud in his heart but when God warned him, he humbled himself and repented before God and therefore, the Lord’s wrath did not come upon him and his household. He had great riches and honour (2Chronicles 32:26-27) As mentioned earlier, not all fathers are good. Hezekiah did not have a good father. His father Ahaz was a wicked king (2Chronicles 28:1-2). However, Hezekiah feared God and God was pleased with him. History tells us that he had a son by the name Manasseh. He was not like his father. He was proud; so during his kingship, the Assyrian armies took him as a prisoner to Babylon. However, when he was in complete distress, he humbled himself and prayed to God and remembered the God of his fathers. God was moved and He brought him back to Jerusalem. Manasseh realised God’s love and the teaching of his father and afterward he rebuild the outer wall of the city of David (2Chronicles 33). Like Manasseh, there are times when children may go astray from the Lord and disobey their parents but when a father in the family imparts proper teaching at home, they realize their mistakes and change their lives. Had not Hezekiah taught his son to pray Manasseh would not have realized his mistake and cry unto the “God of his father’s” (2Chronicles 33:12). Hezekiah set his house in order by giving his best to God and to his family. He kept his physical, spiritual and moral values blemish before God and his family and household of Judah. There are three top most qualities for fathers to learn from the life of Hezekiah to set your house in order:

1. Put God first in all your works (2kings 18:6-7).

Hezekiah instructed the family of Judah to remove all defilement from the temple of the Lord and re-kindled the altar of God (2 Chronicles.29:5). Today, we need to establish family altar and Bible study in our homes to teach our children well.  Be faithful (2Chronicles 31:20-21) Hezekiah remained faithful before God and his household. Therefore, God blessed him and he prospered. There was no moral lapse in his life and kingdom. Adultery is abominable in Christian homes.

3. Be prayerful (2Kings Ch18-19)

Hezekiah was a prayerful father. He feared the Lord in obedience and prayed before God at all times. He acknowledged God’s power and humbled before Him to protect from the enemies (2Kings 19:14-19). Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him (2Kings 18:5-6). Dear fathers, being the head of the family, do you have these qualities in your life? Are you prayerful? Is there an altar of prayer in your family? Do you study and teach God’s word to your family? If not, try to inculcate it in your life and be a blessing to your family. In conclusion, I would like to cite the qualities of a father addressed by Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians, “we deal with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. May God bless the reader. Amen.