Guidelines for a Godly Son

9/14/2017

Gordon Hunter

From the sartorial ("If you are tempted to wear a cowboy hat, resist") to the practical ("Keep a copy of your letters. It makes it easier for your biographer"), the book of rules and accompanying quotations is quite simply an instruction manual for becoming a good man.

Some of what I read was solid, but I don’t want my son to become only a good man, I want him to become a Godly man. So, I’ve taken some of the good thoughts from Lamond, asked for help from some Godly fathers, and added what the Good Book says.

Below are my “Guidelines for a Godly Son:”

#1. Have faith. This is the most important rule. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus reminds Christians that the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. When you truly have faith in the power of God, Christ said “Nothing will be impossible for you.” If you take nothing else from reading these rules, know that your faith can get you through anything.

#2. Love your neighbor. No matter the color of their skin, beliefs, social status, or education, love them. In Mark 12:31 Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Do this and you will live a life worth living. Likewise, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

#3. Be a light in a dark world.John 8:12 states, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Let others see you and know that you believe in Jesus Christ. While it will be harder for you than it was for any generation before you, let your light shine.

#4. Talk to God daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “Pray without ceasing.” To have a meaningful relationship with God, you must spend time in the Word and in prayer. This has taken me some time to realize. Yes, like you, I grew up in church. But it wasn’t until I began to study The Word and prayed often that I started to understand my purpose. The Bible references this many times; see John 15:7, Philippians 4:6-7, and 2 Timothy 3:16.

#5. Do not break your promises. Do what you say you are going to do. When you pledge to spend your life with a woman, do not break that promise. This is broken far too often in our society. It is hard work to keep a relationship in tack; refer to rule 6. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Your mother and I will always love you but on the day you marry, she becomes the most important person in your life. Likewise, when you get married, her family becomes your family. Love them as you love your own blood.

#6. Work hard. You may not be the smartest, most talented, and, if you inherited my speed, you will be as fast as a snail, but you can outwork anyone. Be like a duck; remain calm on the surface but paddle like crazy underneath. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

#7. Do right. This rule I borrowed from Erk Russell, the late father of Georgia Southern football. No matter where you are, who you are with, what situation you are presented with, do the right thing. In Isaiah 1:17 it says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Your mother and I help set your moral compass; follow it.

#8. Learn to communicate at a high level, across generations. The Bible gives us many examples of how to communicate. Here are three that I find helpful. Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” 2 Timothy 2:16: “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,” and Proverbs 12:18: “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” If nothing else, a smile is understood in every language.

#9. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be. Stand up for what you believe in, and do not be afraid of failure. Psalm 27:1 of David: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

#10. Listen more, speak less. This is a tough rule to follow. But when you have mastered this skill, you will become a stronger man.James 1:19 says “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”

#11. Be a leader. Leading is showing, not telling, others what needs to be done. Be a disciple by serving others as best you can. John 13:12-15: “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.’”

#12. Respect your elders. Take the time to listen to your grandparents’ stories; they will leave this earth before you are ready. Honor your mother by being obedient. 1 Peter 5:5: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” Ephesians 6:1-3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

#13. Give credit, take the blame. Matthew 7:12 says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” In all your triumph, give God all the honor and glory as your strength and ability comes from Him. When you are at fault, own it.

#14. Find a mentor as described in Titus 1: 6-9. “If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Seek advice often, but know you don’t always have to follow it.

#15. Look like you know what you're doing; act like you know what you’re doing, and most people will believe you know what you are doing! This isn’t biblical but it has helped me through numerous tough situations.

#16. Never quit! When you start something, finish it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” Play hard and to win. Hunter’s will not quit!

#17. Live open handed. One of the greatest challenges I face with my own desire to be a Godly man is my ego. Throughout his ministry, Jesus constantly put others’ needs before his own (Matthew 5:42, Luke 6:38, John 15:13, Luke 3:10-11), showing us humility. I feel the closest to God when I humble myself and live this way. Far too often, I default to putting my needs first and end up unfulfilled or frustrated. I pray my son lives generously by putting others’ needs before his own, which Jesus tells us is where true joy and peace can be found.

Following these guidelines will not be an easy task. Avoid the temptation to take the route others may choose. Know that I will love you, no matter what. To sum it all up, here is one of my favorite verses from Romans 12:9-13: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Back