Being a man in your family and in your world really all revolves around the topic of this last post: Be a man of God . . . everything else will flow freely from here.
In fact, as David challenged his son with this call: "be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man", this idea of being a man of God -- a man who lives by the standard that God has set forth -- is the core of his challenge.
Here's the full text [I Kings 2:1-3]:
"As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, “I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn."
BE A MAN OF GOD
In his charge to his son [vs.3], David defines for us what true godly manhood is all about. It all flows from being a man of God.
Be a man of commitment: "keep the charge of the Lord your God"
True commitment is something that you see very little of in our culture - especially among men (unfortunately). We tend to look for loop-holes in every area of life. We struggle with follow through . . . and not just in our golf game. The challenge is to "keep [remain committed to] the charge of the Lord."
- Commit to being a man as you lead your family in the ways of God.
- Commit to being a man as you live in this world with integrity, purity.
- Commit to being a man as you give yourself over to the Lordship of Christ.
Be a man of faithfulness: "walk in His ways"
In Colossians 1:10 the apostle Paul instructs us to ". . . walk [live] in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
To "walk in His ways" means that we are to live our lives in sync with the ways and will of God; that as God looks down from the portals of heaven, He would find pleasure as He sees us living our lives to bring honor and glory to Him.
Be a man of the Word: "keep His statues . . . according to what is written"
This is what Paul was saying at the end of Colossians 1:10. he wrote that we are to be ". . . increasing in the knowledge of God." How else will we accomplish such a task except through His Word?!
II Timothy 2:15 admonishes us to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth."
Be a man of success: "that you may succeed"
Isn't that what we all want? We want to live a successful life; to know that our life counts for something; to know that we have accomplished something with our life.
True success cannot be gained outside of having a relationship with God. Bold statement I know . . . especially if you aren't a follower of God. Sure, you can have success in the eyes of the world, but that success will never fully satisfy. There will ALWAYS be the driving desire for just a little bit more. Only by being a man of God will you ever truly succeed in this life and most importantly in the life to come.
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Here's how the story ends for David and begins for his son, Solomon:
"Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David . . .
and Solomon sat on the throne of Dave his father,
and his kingdom was firmly established." [I Kings 2:10-12]
So I guess this Father's Day . . . the key question that is resonating in my heart is this: Am I being the man God has called me to be . . . in my family, in my world, and in my relationship with Him? May it be so! Amen.
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