Contrary to the belief of modern Americans, you do not automatically become a man when you turn 18 years old! Manhood must be earned. It must be achieved. One must live up to the Four Principles of Authentic Manhood.
Four Principles of Authentic Manhood:
Do not be afraid to stand up for what is good and right!
Adam, the first man, failed to take a stand against what was wrong. He
stood by and did nothing while Satan tempted Eve to eat the apple. Then
he passively ate from the apple himself. Thus our fallen, broken, cursed
life. He just stood there while something bad was going on!
{Genesis 3:6}
Do not be afraid to stand up for what is good and right! Even
if it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Even if it means losing friends or
family. You should always do what is right in God's eye!
{Luke 14:26-27 NLT}
Furthermore, you should do what is right even when no one is
looking! God knows your heart and it is what's in your heart that
makes you a man.
{Luke 16:10}
There are many people in the world that are strong, adventurous, and
courageous. But their hearts are weak and their spirits are broken. They
can't stand up to worldly pleasures and temptations. They turn the other
way for fear of ridicule and hide behind a false image of manliness
(like the bully). They are not Men!
Live by the example our King, Jesus Christ, set for us. Knowing
he would have to face ridicule, torture, and death he continued to do
what was right! We should not let his sacrifice be for nothing by
passively letting evil happen around us.
{Philippians 2:5-8}
Accept responsibility with enthusiasm. Take responsibility for your
actions and choices!
Where would we be today if our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, had not
accepted the responsibility given to him? It is very important that
we fulfill our responsibilities and duties!
Our actions and choices have consequences beyond ourselves. Our actions
and choices affect others around us. Never try and push the blame off of
yourself. Stand firm and accept the responsibility of your actions and
choices.
{Hebrews 12:2-3} {Psalms 40:7-8}
Do not make excuses for not accepting responsibility. I have heard some
elaborate excuses in my time (and have made some too!), if half the
effort to make the excuse would have been put into the responsibility,
the sluggard would have accomplished much. Read Matthew 27:24, you can
not "wash your hands" of a tough situation, and it doesn't cancel your
guilt.
{Proverbs 22:13 NLT} {Matthew 27:24}
We have work to do! Not just a job, but at home, in the church, and in
the community.
Accept the responsibility!
{Ephesians 2:10} {Proverbs 6:6-11} {Romans 12:6-8}
"With great power comes great responsibility." Spiderman the movie,
2003-2004
Follow the role model of the greatest leader to ever live, die, and
live again!
"I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him
and every other person in the world there is no possible term of
comparison. Alexander, Charlemagne, and I founded our empires, but on
what did we rest the creation of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ
founded his empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men would die
for him."
- Napoleon Bonaparte, French general and emperor
Millions of men still would die for Jesus Christ, but the empires of
every worldly leader seeking power and glory are nothing but dust!
Napoleon said that Jesus founded his empire on love; Jesus was a
servant leader!
{Luke 22:24-27}
Servant leadership is not based on acquiring power, but on giving it
away. It isn't a goal to be the first, but to be the last. To be the
humblest, instead of the greatest. Jesus' mission was to serve others
and to give his life away. A real leader has a servants heart.
{Matthew 20:27-28}
Lead by example! Beyond encouraging this type of behavior, Jesus
makes the behavior clear to his followers by modeling it. A great leader
must adhere to higher standards than those he wishes to see from his
followers. Read Titus 1:7 for example; a great leader is blameless, is
not overbearing, is not quick tempered, is not given to drunkenness, is
not violent, is not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather in Titus 1:8, a
great leader is hospitable, loves what is good, is self-controlled, is
upright, is holy and disciplined.
{John 13:5-8} {Titus 1:6-9}
Love and serve your Family, Church, Community, or Team. Make it
your job and genuine concern to enable them and encourage them to
succeed! Lead them to success!
Stay Motivated for the Great Reward! Living as a true man, a
Knight, is hard work. What would be the point if there were not a
greater reward? Why be good, why defend the weak, why right wrongs if
there is no reward?
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God." {Hebrews 12:1-2}
What was Jesus' motivation? It was the "joy set before Him". To sit down
at the right hand of God. Life as a real man is not all responsibility,
duty, and sacrifice. There is a reward.
How about abundant life! {John 10:10}
How about profit for the life to come! {1 Timothy 4:8}
How about eternal life! {John 3:16}
Or how about the Love of God! {Romans 8:38-39}
We will all be judged the same in the end. The wealthy man, the rich
actor, the janitor, the father, we will all have our character judged.
Only those that believe in Jesus and apply his teachings to their lives
will find the greater reward.
The natural family, creation of God, is the fundamental human community, based on the life-long marriage between a man and a woman, in which new individuals are conceived, born and raised.
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? A Knight that has accepted the King of Kings' as your Savior and Lord?
Islands of the Net, Virtual Real Estate! Stake your claim today!