Man Up!

Sermon by Charles G. Moore

1 Corinthians 11:3   But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

As men, we are to be leaders, not tyrants, not overbearing, but leaders with our example being Christ. Before we can be leaders, we need to know what a man is supposed to be.

In today’s society, we get mixed answers on what a man is. Some segments of society glorify abusive men as macho and the true definition of a “real man.” Other parts of society are trying to feminize men, glorifying metro-sexuality and homosexuality, telling us that men are to be more feminine.

But how does God define a man?

Here are just a few examples of a biblical man.

1.  Men are to be firm in faith.

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith…

2.  Men are to be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 – … be strong, act like men,

3. Men are not to act childish.

1 Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

4. Men are to be loving and kind.

Colossians 3:19 – Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

5. Men and their families are to serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 – but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

6.   Men are to be humble.

Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

7.   Men are to be an example.

1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Men are to be confident, trusting in the Lord and being willing to do what He asks us to do, not abusive, arrogant or selfish.

God created men to lead. We are empowered to be in control of every situation, with the Word of God being our ‘how-to manual”. God has designed man in a unique way. We are to be followers of God, but leaders here on earth. Without leadership there is destruction.

Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

How men should lead:

1. Men are to be decision makers.

While men should not be overbearing like a dictator, we should be the final decision maker. So many marriages have this principle of leadership in reverse. The wife has been forced into the role of decision maker. The husband goes to work, comes home, plops on the couch and thinks his role as husband and father have been met.

Job 2:9-10 – Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Men should listen to advice. For those of us who are married, our wives can be a great source of wisdom, but it is up to the man to take ownership and make the decision. If Job had not made a firm decision, he may have “cursed God and died” and would have not experienced the blessings he later received.

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