“…show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God…” – I. Kings 2:2
In a world where boyhood and adulthood are ill-defined and clear rites of passage have become close to non-existent, we see new words and ideas emerge to attempt to make sense of the quandary our male population finds itself in as it struggles for identity. Now the teen years and adult years have been blurred and extended. The term “adultscence” has emerged to define or describe this new generation of “men,” now in their late 20s and early 30s, that are paralyzed by indecision and a sad lack of understanding of what it means to be a man today. Identity confusion and exploration distract, sidetrack and stall men from good movement forward. Once again, we must return to the “old paths” to uncover or rediscover what it means for modern men to truly be men. How is this defined and who defines it for us? Too many books have been written, pictures taken, court opinions rendered, television shows broadcasted and billboard space purchased to try and define this for us! Frankly, the answer is quite simple, and it has been right before us for thousands of years! The answer to true manhood is found in God’s word. We catch a glimpse of this when King David is looking to pass his kingship on to his son. Before he dies, he calls Solomon to his side and deliberately tells him, “Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statues, His commands, His rules, and His testimonies…that you may prosper in all that you do and where you turn.” (I Kings 2:2-3) Look at how David six times directs his son, Solomon, toward God as the answer to true manhood. We see this similar type of thinking in I Corinthians 16:13 where Paul says, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” While there are other similar passages in Scripture to support this, it is clear that to MAN UP and act like a man or to show yourself to be a man means to be one who clearly is both grounded and growing in his faith as he intentionally follows after God! Psalms 37:23 reiterates this by declaring, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, WHEN he delights in His way.” There is no enduring culture in which lazy men are celebrated, cowardly men are esteemed, insecure men are elevated, or non-principled men are leading for very long. However, men that are firmly grounded and consistently growing in God’s word will radically change not just marriages, family units, and local communities but could change the entire trajectory of a nation. We know this from Psalms 33:12 where the Psalmist declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!” This happened in America over 200 years ago and it needs to happen once again. This is why it is necessary for men today to “man up" and step up by being immersed in God’s word and letting it be their constant guide if we ever expect to have God’s favor rest upon us once again!
1 Comment
joeronchetti
7/29/2016 06:49:38 pm
Amen Coach. The fields are white... May His workers, like you, run riot
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Author:
|
browersbooks.com |
|
Powered by