Written by Matthew Karns
The assault against godly men manifests from many corners of our society. The feminist movement, including the transgender crusade, is made up of many angry women railing against men in the name of civil rights activism. The second gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff, has started a new campaign that combats “toxic masculinity.” The American Psychological Association has practically declared manliness a mental illness by stating, “Traditional masculinity — marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance, and aggression — is, on the whole, harmful.” While being overly aggressive is not a Christian trait, God does expect men to be strong and steadfast in the faith.
A godly man brushes all of these attacks off like a crumb on a coat knowing they are futile and have little impact on his day-to-day life. The rhetoric becomes just a bunch of noise. Flaunting masculinity or selfishness is never a mark of good character. Respecting and valuing women and their unique abilities is important, while realizing that God created man to play a different role. No matter the opinions of society, a man after God’s heart should never be ashamed of the way he was created.
That is because he is secure and confident in himself while looking to God for support and guidance in all of his affairs. Many times, the older a man becomes, the more things he has accomplished: fathering children, fixing up the first or second house, repairing mechanical issues on cars, and/or succeeding at his career. These things take time to master. Nonetheless, the mighty arm of God backs his self-assurance. A godly man knows his real strength comes from getting on his knees and praying every morning.
A willingness to change when issues are exposed is important in the refinement of a man. Humility influences positive change. There will always be areas where we need to improve as we age. The moment we resolve matters at one stage of life, we move into another, and have new issues that need addressed. The knowledge we learn must be passed on to the next generation as life is always evolving.
As life moves on, a godly man must look to God for guidance with his future and the future of those that depend on him. Be a forecaster of the future and set new goals that align with God’s will. Look past your current situation and visualize how it could be improved. It is okay to stretch your boundaries by stepping out of your comfort zone. Those that earnestly seek the best gifts are shown a more excellent way. (I Corinthians 12:31)
Society has shredded the moral fabric of our country to the extent that our communities lack leaders in the home and neighborhood. Men must not shirk the duty God has given them as evidenced by the many kings and captains of armies we read of in the Bible (Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, and on and on). These leaders were devout men of God who performed mighty and courageous acts.
The apostle Peter gave husbands proper guidance as how to lead in a loving way. Most men are not leading an army into war but many married men are overseeing a family and that requires much love and attention.
Fathers must be teachers of morals and godly principles. Their life is an example to their sons and daughters and others looking on. Situations cause us all to decide between right and wrong. This time is an opportunity to teach a valuable and long-lasting lesson. In addition, Bible stories and parables of doctrine must be taught faithfully.
One valuable lesson that needs passed down to the next generation is loyalty to God, family, church and country. All of these things are much bigger than any man. As our example, Christ loved us and chose to give Himself for our benefit. A godly man will put others before his own needs. It is his duty to exhibit strength for those around him.
There are times when a man needs to relax, unwind and spend quality time with loved ones. What works best for our home life is when our jobs do not consume all of our time. Family meals around a dining room table are a great place to build quality relationships. Afterwards, that time carries over to the living room where time is spent playing and relaxing. Then, the day draws to a close with time spent teaching godly values before ending in prayer; this all initiated by a godly man– one who will stand out in this godless world.
