What we think is manly often isn't manly. Our culture promotes a false view of manhood that needs to be challenged. Proverbs gives us a picture of what is in fact manly. Men need to rediscover the manliness of godliness. Proverbs gives a lot of instruction to men because men are the focus of most of the book. Primarily the Proverbs talk about two kinds of men: bad men and good men or wise men and foolish men. Consider Proverbs 12:1–2: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns." Guys, are you a lover of discipline and knowledge or are you stupid? Everyone knows discipline is required to gain knowledge. No one learns by osmosis. Are you a disciplined man who seeks knowledge? What kind of knowledge is this talking about? Knowledge of God! Bible! Holy things!
Proverbs is telling men (well, all of us actually) to be seeking such knowledge through the means he has given us: the Word, prayer and the Body of Christ. Are you disciplined in your daily walk with Jesus? Are you in the scriptures daily and seeking the Lord in prayer? Are you taking advantage of every opportunity you are given through the Body of Christ to increase your knowledge? Do you see the great importance of the preaching of the Word in your life? Are you pursuing relationships with other Christian men who can help you hold the line in your walk with Christ?
The knowledge referred to here is not just head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Proverbs 15:14 says, "The discerning heart seeks knowledge..." and Proverbs 23:12 tells us, "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." How are the "applying" efforts going for you these days? While all of these Proverbs are applicable to men and women and children alike, God elsewhere tells men they are the heads of their homes. They are to lead by example. Therefore these verses are telling men what manliness looks like. God is calling men to know him deeply, to pursue righteousness, holiness and to seek knowledge. This involves submitting to his instruction, discipline and seeking to become more like Christ in every way.
Proverbs is telling men (well, all of us actually) to be seeking such knowledge through the means he has given us: the Word, prayer and the Body of Christ. Are you disciplined in your daily walk with Jesus? Are you in the scriptures daily and seeking the Lord in prayer? Are you taking advantage of every opportunity you are given through the Body of Christ to increase your knowledge? Do you see the great importance of the preaching of the Word in your life? Are you pursuing relationships with other Christian men who can help you hold the line in your walk with Christ?
The knowledge referred to here is not just head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Proverbs 15:14 says, "The discerning heart seeks knowledge..." and Proverbs 23:12 tells us, "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." How are the "applying" efforts going for you these days? While all of these Proverbs are applicable to men and women and children alike, God elsewhere tells men they are the heads of their homes. They are to lead by example. Therefore these verses are telling men what manliness looks like. God is calling men to know him deeply, to pursue righteousness, holiness and to seek knowledge. This involves submitting to his instruction, discipline and seeking to become more like Christ in every way.
The Christ-like man is the good man of Proverbs 12:2. He is contrasted with the man of evil devices. This guy is the “bad boy” of pop culture who is often praised as being tough and manly. Proverbs contradicts this completely and says such a person is a fool and stands condemned. There is nothing manly or macho about being condemned. No one looks tough while they are on fire! A good man is a kind and compassionate man as Proverbs 12:10 states, "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Bad men think being kind is a weakness. They reason a real man shows strength through cruelty and trampling upon the weak. In the original the Karate Kid movie, the antagonist instructor taught his students "Mercy is for the weak!" But Proverbs says real men have compassion for the weak and care even for their animals' needs. Proverbs 21:21 says, "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." Such men are men who are worthy of honor for their integrity.
Speaking of integrity, Proverbs 10:9 says, "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." Having integrity means who you are when no one is watching is identical to when everyone is watching! It doesn't mean you are perfect. It means you are truthful, honest, genuine in how you abide by God's standards. The man of integrity walks securely because he acknowledges God in all his ways. He sees he is dependent on God for everything and fears God in how he conducts himself. He has nothing to fear! Only those who walk on crooked paths (i.e. the bad boys who think they are cool) have reason to fear.
I hope the male readers think about this and see that what is often presented as manly isn't. Let's aim to be real me - the kind of men God calls us to be. This also gives young ladies a description of what sort of man God would want them to marry by separating real men from the boys.
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