A few weeks ago, our church hosted their monthly Men's Breakfast. The main question up for debate was "What defines a Man?".
I strongly believe that every man thinks about this question at least once a day - be it consciously or subconsciously. It's fundamental to his existence. And he was designed to ask himself that question...to re-evaluate his identity, purpose, and what makes him 'drive', over and over again.
At the time, we were given a few minutes to write down our own definition. But it is an exercise I would encourage each man to do. Not every day. Maybe not even once a week. Thinking about this question and writing it down on a monthly basis will really help coming to grips with who you are in Christ.
The more I read the Bible, the more I am beginning to see a reflection of the man I want to be. It's an exercise in chucking out the stuff that's futile and of no real use, and clothing me with traits & attitudes that make up a man after God's own heart.
The Old Testament readings in the past months have taken me through the Book of Samuel and the Book of Kings, where we encounter the great Kings of Israel - David & Solomon.
How comforting it is to know that even these two anointed Kings had plenty of stumbling blocks in their lives and faults in their characters. How awesome it is to know that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. There is no pressure to be something or somebody who isn't truthful. God wants us to be true to ourselves. He despises all forms of lies. And pretending to be 'holy' won't ever work.
When I was in high school, my 'religion teacher' read us the entire story of Saul, David & Solomon. His reading made the pages come alive and I haven't forgotten certain passages until today. However, I was too young to realise the significance of the protagonist's struggle. The common struggle we all share: living up to other people's expectations.
This can be friends, family, co-workers, the boss etc. The normal earthly person always has expectations. I most definitely have expectations of other people. Our upbringing somewhat forces us to believe that others think the same way we do. I suppose that the more siblings we grow up with, the more we understand that not everybody thinks like us.
We are creatures of mimesis. We first copy the behaviour (and more) of our parents and people closest to us. They set the example. We imitate them. And thus, we are slightly caught up in their view of the world...as well as their expectations.
For example, someone might grow up with parents who pray before every meal. If you go visit a friend's house and their parents don't do that, you begin to wonder whether there's something 'wrong' with them.
The world keeps re-shaping our view of what it means to be a man. And (Christian) men must react toward this commercial moulding process and refuse to give in.
What makes a true man?
It cannot be linked to materialistic items. As much as some might want to believe, a car does not make a man. Neither does his Rolex watch, his suit or his iPhone.
Today, I began to read one of the most profound writings in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. It may be regarded as contradictory, but the core message is that there is a middle-ground between all extremes. Life cannot be just positive. Nor can it be just negative. Walking through life, is learning to walk on a tightrope. Death awaits us all. Everything beforehand is therefore meaningless.
And yet, it appears that one thing does gives us meaning: the truth of our belief in Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes is a warning to all those who think that life is about experiences within the physical realm. And it is a warning to men, above all, who have the tendency to search on and on and on...
Christian men should be content. The search is over! You have been saved and you're privileged to know the one true God. We have a unique chance to aspire toward living as His servants.
In addition we have another higher calling. Whereas God's spiritual army is filled with angels that can directly intervene and fight within the physical realm, Christian men are physical beings fighting a spiritual war in the name of Christ. We are a part of David's undefeatable 300-men strong army. We are called to be the King's guard. We are asked to follow Jesus...and to imitate Him.
Neither you nor I are Jesus. We could never be. But we can talk to Him. His Holy Spirit can guide us toward becoming the man God wants us to be. We cannot close our ears to His soft whisper or eyes to His wrath when we mess up badly.
Even David & Solomon had the balls to face up to GOD when they walked astray. A Christian man is a warrior of the heart, with the strong desire to capture the heart of God. He wants us to fight, no matter what the circumstance. He wants us to get up and carry on.
There is only one expectation we should care about: God's expectation to fulfil our potential and never doubt His unending Love, Power and Grace.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes writes: "There is nothing new under the sun." But Jesus told us otherwise: YOU are NEW. A new creation. God's creation. And so let us (particularly men) renew our hearts, souls and minds to follow our Creator as loyal children.
I strongly believe that every man thinks about this question at least once a day - be it consciously or subconsciously. It's fundamental to his existence. And he was designed to ask himself that question...to re-evaluate his identity, purpose, and what makes him 'drive', over and over again.
At the time, we were given a few minutes to write down our own definition. But it is an exercise I would encourage each man to do. Not every day. Maybe not even once a week. Thinking about this question and writing it down on a monthly basis will really help coming to grips with who you are in Christ.
The more I read the Bible, the more I am beginning to see a reflection of the man I want to be. It's an exercise in chucking out the stuff that's futile and of no real use, and clothing me with traits & attitudes that make up a man after God's own heart.
The Old Testament readings in the past months have taken me through the Book of Samuel and the Book of Kings, where we encounter the great Kings of Israel - David & Solomon.
How comforting it is to know that even these two anointed Kings had plenty of stumbling blocks in their lives and faults in their characters. How awesome it is to know that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. There is no pressure to be something or somebody who isn't truthful. God wants us to be true to ourselves. He despises all forms of lies. And pretending to be 'holy' won't ever work.
When I was in high school, my 'religion teacher' read us the entire story of Saul, David & Solomon. His reading made the pages come alive and I haven't forgotten certain passages until today. However, I was too young to realise the significance of the protagonist's struggle. The common struggle we all share: living up to other people's expectations.
This can be friends, family, co-workers, the boss etc. The normal earthly person always has expectations. I most definitely have expectations of other people. Our upbringing somewhat forces us to believe that others think the same way we do. I suppose that the more siblings we grow up with, the more we understand that not everybody thinks like us.
We are creatures of mimesis. We first copy the behaviour (and more) of our parents and people closest to us. They set the example. We imitate them. And thus, we are slightly caught up in their view of the world...as well as their expectations.
For example, someone might grow up with parents who pray before every meal. If you go visit a friend's house and their parents don't do that, you begin to wonder whether there's something 'wrong' with them.
The world keeps re-shaping our view of what it means to be a man. And (Christian) men must react toward this commercial moulding process and refuse to give in.
What makes a true man?
It cannot be linked to materialistic items. As much as some might want to believe, a car does not make a man. Neither does his Rolex watch, his suit or his iPhone.
Today, I began to read one of the most profound writings in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. It may be regarded as contradictory, but the core message is that there is a middle-ground between all extremes. Life cannot be just positive. Nor can it be just negative. Walking through life, is learning to walk on a tightrope. Death awaits us all. Everything beforehand is therefore meaningless.
And yet, it appears that one thing does gives us meaning: the truth of our belief in Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes is a warning to all those who think that life is about experiences within the physical realm. And it is a warning to men, above all, who have the tendency to search on and on and on...
Christian men should be content. The search is over! You have been saved and you're privileged to know the one true God. We have a unique chance to aspire toward living as His servants.
In addition we have another higher calling. Whereas God's spiritual army is filled with angels that can directly intervene and fight within the physical realm, Christian men are physical beings fighting a spiritual war in the name of Christ. We are a part of David's undefeatable 300-men strong army. We are called to be the King's guard. We are asked to follow Jesus...and to imitate Him.
Neither you nor I are Jesus. We could never be. But we can talk to Him. His Holy Spirit can guide us toward becoming the man God wants us to be. We cannot close our ears to His soft whisper or eyes to His wrath when we mess up badly.
Even David & Solomon had the balls to face up to GOD when they walked astray. A Christian man is a warrior of the heart, with the strong desire to capture the heart of God. He wants us to fight, no matter what the circumstance. He wants us to get up and carry on.
There is only one expectation we should care about: God's expectation to fulfil our potential and never doubt His unending Love, Power and Grace.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes writes: "There is nothing new under the sun." But Jesus told us otherwise: YOU are NEW. A new creation. God's creation. And so let us (particularly men) renew our hearts, souls and minds to follow our Creator as loyal children.
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