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Most church leaders are addressed as spiritual fathers and their mentees as spiritual sons and daughters. But Scripture does not use the term “spiritual father.” It carefully uses “father in Christ”, “father in the Lord” or “father in the faith” (1 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4).
The apostle Paul often referred to himself as a father in Christ in reference to his relationship with Timothy, Onesimus, Titus and other believers or churches he was used to build.
Most sons and daughters in the Church in Africa today are young ministers who are struggling to excel in their ministries because of financial constraints. They are, therefore, unable to afford a plot of land to put up a church building, rent a hall, buy basic musical instrument, buy chairs and pay utility bills
However, many fathers including those who are rich seek financial support from their sons and daughters. They burden them with incessant demands to sow financial seeds so that they can tap into the material blessings upon their lives. Is this morally proper and doctrinally sound?
Now, regarding this practice, Paul, a true and successful apostle and father in the faith, shares a thought about it in his letter to the Corinthian church. His wisdom is worth examining, considering and applying today. He wrote:
“Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Corinthians 12:14-15).
In his plan to visit his sons and daughters, Paul purposed in his heart not to be a burden to them. He did not want them to worry about money or other material things they should donate to him.
His reason for that decision was clearly stated: “For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” Fathers are providers and caretakers. Thus, they store up resources to care for their children.
For example, not only did Elijah, a father, shelter his son in the Lord, Elisha, but also clothed and fed him. In other words, Elijah spent on Elisha. Remember that Elisha followed Elijah and lived with him after leaving his business (1 Kimgs 19:19-21). On the other hand, Elisha served Elijah (2 Kings 3:11), but he never gave him money or donated any material substance to support him.
The same can be seen in the relationship between Paul and his sons, especially Timothy and Onesimus. He provided for their needs by spending on them out of his savings (Philemon 1:19). A successful father is prosperous; he is not poor.
This scriptural fatherly responsibility in the Lord is what pastors, apostles, evangelists, prophets and teachers must emulate in this generation. They must invest in their sons and daughters to become better ministers of the gospel than they are. This is true Christian servant leadership exhibited by Christ Jesus.
Wealthy fathers in the faith who take money from their sons and daughters with the false promise that they will receive great blessings ought to read and reflect on the scriptural verse below:
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty” (Proverbs 22:16).
Yes, a pastor can device various strategies to increase in material wealth and riches and yet be poor spiritually. One man of God said, “It is better to live poorly upon the fruit of God’s goodness than to live plentifully on the proceeds of sin.”
The Lord Jesus also warns church leaders, saying, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see” (Revelation 3:17-18).
By James Quansah
