You might have seen the Old Spice commercials that tell consumers to "Be a Man". They're truly a work of genius due to the way they poke fun at today's men in a playful and non-humiliating way. A typical message of these funny and enjoyable commercials is encouraging men to man up. The commercial focus is often a man riding his horse backwards or some other comical scenario. However, being a man is much more than what is conveyed by these commercials. Christian men experience a deeper knowledge of the true meaning of "being a man" and also the need for their role both in families and the surrounding community. The ability to understand this concept and its importance may be the one concept that transforms the world.
Christ and also the Church would be the models for comprehending the role of a man in their home, work, and church life. The scripture defines the Church as Christ's bride. Men are meant to love their wives as Christ loves his bride, the Church. Our Savior gave himself intent on saving all of God's children. This noble act was done for the Church and all of Jesus' followers. So now with this new enlightenment, I pose a question to not just Christians but all husbands out there. Would you give this ultimate sacrifice for your wife? Allow me to give you another thing to ponder. Will you make your spouse feel exalted as God, our Father, did for Jesus? If a man has indeed manned up, she will be reassured that necessary means will be taken to protect her and the children.
There isn't any right or wrong answer here. The point here is how the above commercials, while humorous, do not define what a man should be. Males are typically expected to be strong and confident. To understand your path to legitimate manhood, men need to use our Savior as a role model. His strength and dedication to both Church and the followers shows the characteristics every man should possess. You may be a powerful man, but do you make use of strength to look after your wife and family the way they ought to be? Assess the current priority degree of your loved ones and then turn to Christ as a role model for improvement.
Males are often identified by the money they earn, their possessions, and their visual appeal. These things are a distraction from more important characteristics such as character, loyalty, and responsibility. If a man is never home and puts his desires before his family, is he really a man? A true man puts his responsibilities first and keeps the needs of those closest to him as a top priority. They do not run away when times are rough or make excuses but rather handle their issues and supply for their families. God prefers that all men be considered a solid, dependable figure for their families. Trust in God's word for the best path and the strength you need. These commercials recognize the importance of the role of a man, but only the Lord can give you the essence of a REAL man.
Our Savior's strength and dependability should be included by every man through their everyday life choices. Leo Wells discusses this along with other inspiring ideas at Leo-wells-on-worship.com.