Oil, tires, battery…check, check, and check. All of these are things that keep your car maintained so you prevent future problems. Fatherhood’s like that. Preventive maintenance helps you avoid life’s surprises. Here are 5 reasons why God’s Word should be your go-to tool for life’s preventive maintenance. All Scripture is…#1 breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16). Paul wanted us to know that Scripture is the authority over our lives. As a dad, you aren’t the authority, God is. God and His Word should rule your thoughts, words, and actions. #2 Profitable for teaching: Timothy battled false teaching. Paul encouraged him to teach the right doctrine/living. Study and know Scripture so you can rightly explain it to your family. Life-changing power flows to a kid whose dad faithfully talks about Scripture. #3 Profitable for reproof: you can call out and confront disobedience using God’s Word. Note: the emphasis is on using Scripture to call out and confront sin, not simply your personal opinions from “back in your day.” #4 Profitable for correction: when someone strays from the truth, you guide. You can help course correct, pointing them to His Word. #5 Profitable for training in righteousness: Scripture provides you with wise guidance for growing in Him and doing the next right thing.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IDENTITY? Why in the world am I here? Both are fair questions and deserve thoughtful answers. In fact, figuring these questions out is what motivates almost everything we do and say as guys. Since it’s so important, we might as well go to the Source for our answers. That means turning to God, which means finding out what the Bible says about our identity as Christ followers and as men.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FOR A GUY’S LIFE: Whether you’re a do-it-yourself, shade tree mechanic or rely on the professionals for help, you understand the importance of basic car maintenance. Simple things like oil changes, tire rotations, battery checks, and tune-ups can keep things running smoothly and prevent headaches down the road. The same is true with our lives. God has given us the tools to regularly fix a few small things that will keep us on the road as husbands, dads, friends, and men. This podcast will examine some of those tools and see how you can start your preventive maintenance plan.

“I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.” —D. L. Moody

“The Word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can’t really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of Scripture.” —Elisabeth Elliot

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” —Apostle Paul

“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will.” —Billy Graham

Tuneup time. With all five traits, it’s vital you use Scripture to maintain your life. Are you doing preventive maintenance on yourself? Are you allowing Scripture to teach you, give you reproof, correct you, and train you in righteousness? Why does all this matter? Because we should desire to be complete and equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17). God wants you and your family to be found mature in the faith. Ask your wife/kids: On a scale of 1-10, how am I doing as a husband/dad? Listen to the number, then ask: What’s one thing I can do to move the number up? Work on whatever your family tells you before my next email. 

Kent Evans
Author of Bring Your Hammer, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.