Ujumbe kwa Mababa

“Nitatembea katika nyumba yangu katika unyofu wa moyo wangu.”

Zaburi 101:2

“I will walk in my house in the integrity of my heart.”

Psalm 101:2

Ujumbe kwa Mababa

Mathayo 5:48: “Lazima muwe wakamilifu, kama vile Baba yenu wa mbinguni alivyo mkamilifu.”

Je, sisi akina baba tunawezaje kufanya kazi bora zaidi tuwezayo katika kulea watoto wetu? Akina baba Wakristo wana kiwango cha juu cha kuishi kulingana na kwamba wao (kama Wakristo wote) wanashauriwa kutenda kama Baba yao wa mbinguni anavyowatendea. Hebu tuchukue muda sasa kuzungumzia jinsi Baba yetu anavyotutendea, ili kuangazia kiwango cha jinsi sisi akina baba tunahitaji kutenda kwa watoto wetu.

A Message to Fathers

Matthew 5:48: “You must be perfect--just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

How can we fathers do the best job possible in raising our children? Christian fathers have a high standard to live up to given that they (as all Christians) are admonished to act as their Father in heaven acts towards them. Let us take some time now to talk about how our Father acts towards us, so as to spotlight the standard of how we fathers need to act towards our children.

Kutoa

Mathayo 6:25-28 BHN - “Ndiyo maana nawaambieni, msiwe na wasiwasi juu ya chakula na kinywaji mtakachohitaji ili kuendelea kuwa hai, wala kuhusu mavazi ya miili yenu. Je, maisha si ya thamani kuliko chakula? Na mwili si wa thamani kuliko mavazi?

Baba yetu anatuambia tusihangaikie mavazi na vitu vingine vya lazima tunavyohitaji maishani. Hivyo tunahitaji kuwapa watoto wetu chakula na nguo. Si lazima tuwaharibie kwa wingi wa vitu, lakini vya kutosha ili tupate mahitaji ya kutosha, kama vile Baba yetu wa Mbinguni hutupatia mahitaji yetu (si matakwa yetu).

Providing

Matthew 6:25-28 - “This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn't life worth more than food? And isn't the body worth more than clothes?”

Our Father tells us not to worry about clothing and other necessary items that we need in life. So we need to provide our children with food and clothes. We don’t have to spoil them with an overabundance of things, but enough to be adequately provided for, just as our Heavenly Father provides for our needs (not our wants).

Kuangalia maslahi yao

Mathayo 7:11 “Basi si zaidi sana Baba yenu aliye mbinguni atawapa mema wale wamwombao!

Mstari huu unadokeza kwamba Baba yetu anajua kile tunachohitaji na yuko tayari kutoa wakati msaada unapoombwa na watoto Wake. Kama akina baba, tunahitaji kujifunza kila mmoja wa watoto wetu ili kujua kile wanachohitaji kabla ya maombi yao. Hapo ndipo akina baba watakapokuwa tayari kuwapa watoto wao vitu vizuri kwa wakati ufaao na kwa hekima.

Looking out for their interest

Matthew 7:11 - “How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

This verse implies that our Father knows what we have need of and is ready to give it when help is requested by His children. As fathers, we need to study each of our children in order to know what they need in advance of their requests. Only then will fathers be ready to give good things to their children in a timely and wise manner.

Merciful

Luke 6:36 - “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

Sometimes we tend to talk down to our children, especially when the pressures of life are coming to a boil. Our Father in heaven does not treat us this way. We find abundant Grace to help in time of need. Our children should believe that they can approach us with the same confidence in which we approach the throne of grace.

Merciful

Luke 6:36 - “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

Sometimes we tend to talk down to our children, especially when the pressures of life are coming to a boil. Our Father in heaven does not treat us this way. We find abundant Grace to help in time of need. Our children should believe that they can approach us with the same confidence in which we approach the throne of grace.

Kusamehe

Luka 15:20-22 - “...Yeye alipokuwa angali mbali na nyumbani, baba yake alipomwona; moyo wake ukajawa na huruma, akakimbia, akamkumbatia mwanawe na kumbusu. ‘Baba,’ mwana akasema, ‘nimetenda dhambi dhidi ya Mungu na dhidi yako. sistahili tena kuitwa mwana wako.' Lakini baba akawaita watumishi wake. ‘Fanya haraka,’ akasema, ‘leta vazi lililo bora zaidi na kumvika. Mtieni pete kidoleni na viatu miguuni.’”

Forgiving

Luke 15:20-22 - “…He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. ‘Father,' the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry,' he said, ‘bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.’”

Tunayo hapa majibu ya kawaida kuhusu jinsi akina baba wanapaswa kuwatendea watoto wao wanapotubu dhambi zao. Hakuna mihadhara, hakuna karipio, hapana "Nilikuambia hivyo!" Mtazamo wa Baba yetu ni huruma kwanza, kisha kukubalika kwa vitendo - Yeye anakimbia - kuelekea kwetu. Kisha anatukumbatia kwa moyo wake wote, si kwa kukubali kwa sehemu tu. Hakuna mashaka ya kushindwa kwa siku zijazo! Pia yuko katika haraka ya kukamilisha upatanisho kati ya Mwanawe aliyepotea kwa muda mrefu na Yeye Mwenyewe. Anampatia mavazi bora kabisa. Ni kiasi gani zaidi angeweza kufanya?

We have here the classic response as to how fathers should treat their children when they repent of their sins. No lectures, no rebukes, no “I told you so!” Our Father’s attitude is first compassion, then acceptance in action -- He runs -- towards us. Then He embraces us with His whole heart, not just with partial acceptance. No suspicion of future failures! He also is in a hurry to complete the reconciliation between His long lost son and Himself. He provides him with the very best clothing. How much more could He do?

Ni lazima tuwe na mtazamo huu watoto wetu wanapopotea. Ili kutekeleza hili, lazima kuwe na matarajio makubwa ya kurudi kutoka kwa dhambi. Kwa nini baba wa mfano huo angekimbia kumlaki? Moyo wake uko kwa mwanawe, hata mzigo wa dhambi unaposimama kati yao. Je, kama akina baba, tuna mtazamo kama huo kwa watoto wetu?

We must have this same attitude when our children stray. In order to carry this out, there must be great anticipation of a return from sin. Why else would the father of the parable run to meet him? His heart is obviously with his son, even when the load of sin stands between them. As fathers, do we have this same attitude towards our children?

Marekebisho

Yohana 15:2 "Yeye hulivunja kila tawi ndani yangu lisilozaa matunda, na kila tawi lizaalo hulisafisha, ili liwe safi na kuzaa zaidi."

Kama vile Baba yetu anavyotusahihisha na kutuongoza katika njia tunayopaswa kuiendea, vivyo hivyo akina baba hawapaswi kuogopa kukata matawi yasiyozaa ambayo mtoto hukua. Ni lazima ifanyike, lakini kwa uangalifu mkubwa na mawazo ya upendo, ili usiharibu tawi zima.

Correction

John 15:2 - “He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit.”

Just as our Father corrects and guides us in the way that we should go, so fathers should not be afraid to prune the unfruitful twigs that a child grows. It must be done, but with utmost care and loving thought, so as not to damage the entire branch.

Bila upendeleo

1 Petro 1:17 - “Ninyi mwamwita Baba, mkisali kwa Mungu, ambaye huwahukumu watu wote kwa kipimo kile kile, kwa kadiri ya matendo ya kila mtu; kwa hiyo basi, tumieni maisha yenu yote hapa duniani kwa kumcha.”

Impartial

1 Peter 1:17 - “You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard (impartial), according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him.”

Mara nyingi sana baba huwachukulia watoto wao kama bora kuliko watoto wengine wote. Watoto wao hawawezi kufanya kosa lolote. Hii sio taswira ya Baba yetu aliye juu. Anawahukumu wote kwa kiwango sawa kama wao ni watoto Wake au la. Akina baba wanapaswa kuwaonyesha watoto wao kwamba kuna kiwango kimoja tu cha haki ya kuishi. Ni kiwango hiki kinachowaonyesha uthabiti katika maisha na kwamba wengine wote wana umuhimu sawa. Vinginevyo, kiburi kitaenda kabla ya kuanguka. Hii mara nyingi huonekana kwenye matukio ya michezo ambayo watoto hushiriki; wazazi mara nyingi huwa na ubaguzi katika maamuzi yao na hawaakisi kiwango kimoja cha hukumu cha Baba yetu.

Too often fathers treat their children as better than all other children. Their children can do no wrong. This is not a reflection of our Father above. He judges all by the same standard whether they are His children or not. Fathers must show their children that there is only one standard of right to live by. It is this standard that shows them consistency in life and that all others are of equal importance. Otherwise, pride will go before the fall. This is often seen at sporting events in which children participate; parents are often partial in their judgments and do not reflect our Father’s single standard of judgment.

Uthabiti

Mathayo 5:37-37 BHN - “Acheni tu ‘Ndiyo yenu iwe Ndiyo,’ na ‘Siyo’ yenu iwe ‘Siyo;’ lo lote zaidi ya hayo hutoka kwa yule mwovu.

Consistency

Matthew 5:37 - “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Labda sifa muhimu zaidi ambayo Baba anaweza kuonyesha ni uthabiti. Watoto lazima wajue kwamba majibu ya baba yao yatakuwa sawa baada ya muda. Ikiwa jibu ni jambo moja siku moja na jingine ijayo, watoto wanawezaje kuamini hukumu ya baba yao? Baba yetu habadiliki kamwe. Tunajua kabisa kile tunachoweza kutarajia kwa sababu neno Lake halirudi bure. Kama akina baba, lazima tuakisi uthabiti wa Baba yetu pia. Hakuna kitu muhimu zaidi kwa ukuaji wa mtoto kuliko kuwa na baba ambaye mwongozo na mwelekeo haubadiliki na kuvuma kwa pepo za ulimwengu huu. Tahadhari: Tukiona kwamba tumefanya uamuzi usiofaa, hatupaswi kusita kusema tulikosea, kueleza sababu, na kuomba msamaha.

Perhaps the most important trait a Father can show is consistency. Children must know that their father’s responses will be the same over time. If a response is one thing one day and another the next, how can children trust their father’s judgment? Our Father is never changing. We know exactly what we can expect because His word does not return unto Him void. As fathers, we must reflect our Father’s consistency as well. Nothing is more important to a child’s development than having a father whose guidance and direction doesn’t change with the blowing of this world’s winds. A word of caution: If we find we have made a wrong decision, we should not be hesitant to say we were wrong, explain why, and apologize.

Muhtasari

Kuwa baba mcha Mungu si rahisi. Lakini ni mojawapo ya daraka la maana zaidi katika kuwaleta watoto wetu kumwelewa Baba yao halisi wa mbinguni. Ni lazima tuwe vielelezo vyake. Ni ushahidi gani bora kwa watoto wetu kuliko jinsi tunavyotenda na sisi ni nani. Maneno ambayo hayaendani na matendo huwaambia watoto wetu kwamba hatuamini kabisa Maneno ya Baba yetu. Tunahitaji kuwaonyesha kwa mifano jinsi ya kuishi maisha ya kumcha Mungu, badala ya kuwahubiria mahubiri ambayo hayakubaliani na jinsi tunavyoishi.

Summary

Being a godly father is not easy. But it is one of the most important roles in bringing our children to an understanding of their real Father in heaven. We must be role models of Him. What better witness to our children than how we act and who we are. Words that are inconsistent with actions tell our children that we really don’t believe our Father’s Words. We need to show them by example how to live a godly life, rather than preach them sermons that do not agree with how we live.

A.W. © CDMI.org