Tag: men

Leading Well Is Loving Well

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment

As a pastor, I know I need regular reminders to stay faithful to the Lord, to not compromise my convictions, and to love those I lead.

We have all heard stories of politicians who chose political expediency over fulfilling promises made to their constituencies. At times, all leaders can be tempted to sacrifice convictions when it is convenient. When a leader is driven by selfish ambition rather than love for those they lead, they end up treating their fellow image bearers of God as steppingstones for career advancement. But the best leaders don’t treat people as a means to an end. Instead, they love those they lead and invest in their growth.

I often tell men at my church that all men are called to lead in some sphere, beginning first with leading themselves. Self-rule or “self-control” is a quality the Bible holds in high esteem; it’s a necessary ingredient for leading others with patience and integrity.

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32, ESV)

According to the Bible, leading well is not so much about dominating and ruling over others, but about ruling your own spirit so that you can lead others by example.

And the best leaders are those who first faithfully follow their Master, the Lord Jesus. Jesus chose twelve men—called “Apostles”—to be the leaders of His church after His ascension into Heaven. But before that time, He poured into these men with wise instruction and taught them that His kingdom would be marked by loving service, self-denial, and humble faith.

When no one else was willing to do the job of a servant, Jesus showed these guys what true leadership looks like. In a stunning display of humility, Jesus washed their feet. In the Apostles’ minds, this was an act fit for a household slave, not a rabbi. And certainly not a Messiah! Yet Jesus said:

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should just as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15, ESV)

“As Goes the Man, So Goes the Family”

Family is the first sphere to practice this Christlike kind of servant leadership. A man leads his wife well, not by bossing her around and expecting to be served, but by sacrificing his time and energy to love her well, listening well as she shares her heart, and caring for her needs so that she will flourish (Colossians 3:19). Dads and moms lead their children by teaching them, certainly, but also by changing diapers, preparing meals, and bandaging a skinned knee.

The greatest Leader of all time said it best:

“Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45, CSB)

All men are called to lead, but they can lead best if they first submit themselves to God and His will for their lives. When men fail to lead with strength and service, everyone suffers.

Pastor Tony Evans put it well:

“As goes the man, so goes the family. As goes the family; so goes the church. As goes the church; so goes the community. As goes the community; so goes the nation. So if you want to change the nation; change the community; if you want to change the community change the church; if you want to change the church; change the family; if you want to change the family, change the man.”

A Case Study in Bad Leadership

The biblical book of 1 Kings provides us with numerous examples of leadership gone awry. One such example is the young Rehoboam. The heading for 1 Kings 12 in my Bible is “Rehoboam’s Folly,” so we know immediately things are about to go sideways for this young king. After ascending the throne in place of his now deceased father, Solomon, Rehoboam encounters a crisis early in his political career.

Another young man named Jeroboam (not to be confused with Rehoboam) acts as a union leader and leads the Israelite labor force in demanding some changes occur now that Rehoboam is king, or else they’ll go on strike.

“Your father [Solomon] made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” (1 Kings 12:4, ESV)

Rehoboam buys some time to consider his next move. So far, so good. When a leader responds impulsively during a crisis, problems can escalate. A good leader knows when to press pause and reassess the situation before making a decision. Rehoboam then meets with some of the senior members of his advisory board, the very men who helped guide his father Solomon. Again, this is a good move. Solomon himself said, “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers” (Proverbs 11:4, NLT).

These older men had experience and wisdom that Rehoboam lacked. They knew what it took to lead people over the long haul. Here’s what we read:

“They replied, ‘Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.’” (1 Kings 12:7, CSB)

In other words, these aged advisers recommended servant leadership. “If you serve them, they will serve you. If you love them, they will love you. If you’re in touch with their needs, they will gladly follow your lead.”

Unfortunately, Rehoboam didn’t care for this advice. He was too headstrong and progressive to recognize the wisdom of their words. He wrote them off as old has-beens who were stuck in the past. He then consulted the young men he had grown up with—his childhood friends and frat buddies, who, like him, were privileged and proud.

Their advice was the exact opposite of the older men:

“This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’” (1 Kings 12:10-11, CSB)

In other words, “These people feel they’re being worked too hard, huh? Why don’t you tell them there’s a new sheriff in town. It’s time you showed them who’s really in charge. You’ve got to lead with an iron fist. Remind them how puny they are and how much you’ll punish their insolence!”

Rehoboam must have smiled maniacally as he heard these words, because he decided to do exactly what these foolish young men said. Today, this would be a bit like ignoring the sound and biblical wisdom of older generations in your family, church, and community, and instead turning to the latest advice from some rising star on TikTok, who is probably prone to thoughtless narcissism and overreaction.

And because he ignored the advice of the older men, Rehoboam lost the people. They now saw him as the cold-hearted tyrant that he was, unwilling and unfit to lead people well. Nearly the entire nation turned on him, and they made Jeroboam, the one viewed as “a man of the people,” their new king.

Not only that, but Scripture says, “And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually” (1 Kings 14:30). That is a painful reminder that tyranny and violence only begets tyranny and violence.

Back in the 1800s, the wise theologian J. C. Ryle made an observation that is just as timely today:

“How common is it to see young men with big heads, high-minded, and not wanting to hear wise counsel! How often they are rude and uncourteous to all around them, thinking they are not valued and honored as they deserve! How often they will not stop to listen to a hint from an older person! They think they know everything. They are full of conceit of their own wisdom. They view elderly people, especially their relations, as stupid, and dull, and slow… And this is all pride.”[1]

Every Leader Is Accountable

There’s an important reminder included in this passage that is easy to miss. The narrator says:

“The king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events came from the Lord to carry out his word.” (1 Kings 12:15, CSB)

In other words, although Rehoboam supposed he was in charge, the reality is that all this came “from the Lord to carry out his word,” because God had already promised in the days of Solomon’s rebellion that the kingdom would be divided. All leaders need to be reminded that ultimately it is the Lord, not man, who truly rules the world. The Book of Revelation tells us that eventually there will be only one Man sitting on the throne, and His name is Jesus.

The lesson for all of us is that good leaders recognize that they are accountable to God for how they lead. Who you are influenced by matters a great deal. And if you lead with domineering and harsh cruelty, you will have to answer for that.

Rather than looking for ways to break the spirit of those we lead, as Rehoboam did, we ought to look for ways to build up others so that they can grow and flourish under the umbrella of our leadership. To lead well we must love well.

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

[1] J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 27.

40 Marks of Men Committed to the Truth

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life2 Comments

Many Christians today are concerned about the direction our culture has been going for some time now. Some are agitated, some anxious. I’ve spoken with many Christians who have admitted a deep concern for what is happening in current events, both locally and globally.

It’s no wonder that Paul called the current era “the present evil age” (Galatians 1:3). Thankfully, we are also assured that faith is “the victory that has overcome the world” (1 John 5:4). In order to live victoriously by faith during the present evil age, Christians must make a personal and unreserved commitment to the truth of God’s Word. Only Scripture can tell us the truth about who God is, what has gone wrong, who Christ is, who we are, and what we can expect while living in these crazy and confused times. In particular, God calls men to commit their lives—body, mind, and soul—to the truth, setting an example for their families and friends to follow.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)

Rather than being tossed back and forth by every new wave of teaching that comes our way, we are called to stand firmly on the rock of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls every man to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith,” “be strong,” and “act like men.” I would encourage every Christian to meditate on Ephesians 4:14-25. In that passage, Paul speaks of the truth of Jesus as the liberating force that sets us free from all that hinders our spiritual growth.

One thing I love about this passage is the emphasis on unity in the body of Christ. To the extent that the church of Jesus Christ ignores the truth of Christ, to that extent we will split apart and lose a strong sense of identity as adopted sons and daughters of God.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Below are 40 marks of men committed to the truth.

Men committed to the Truth…

  1. Love the truth about God (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
  2. Rejoice when the truth is proclaimed (Philippians 1:18)
  3. Admit they are sinners in need of a Savior (1 John 1:8)
  4. Have been born again through the Word of truth (James 1:18)
  5. Know the truth about Jesus and His Gospel (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:26)
  6. Trust in Jesus for salvation for forgiveness of sin (John 3:16, 36)
  7. Know that Jesus sets us free from sin, Satan, and hell (John 8:32, 36)
  8. Are filled with the Spirit of truth (John 16:13)
  9. Worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24)
  10. Commit to follow Jesus without reservation (Luke 20:21)
  11. Believe the Bible in its entirety is God-breathed truth (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  12. Are not ashamed of the Gospel of truth (Romans 1:16)
  13. Repent of sin (2 Timothy 2:25)
  14. Refuse to suppress the truth about God’s righteousness and wrath (Romans 1:18)
  15. Study God’s Word diligently (2 Timothy 2:15)
  16. Renew their minds through belief in God’s Word (Romans 12:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  17. Obey the truth of God’s Word and walk in the light (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:6)
  18. Rejoice in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)
  19. Stand for truth even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient (2 Corinthians 13:8)
  20. Desire to have God’s heart for the lost (1 Timothy 2:4)
  21. Put away falsehood and lovingly share truth with others (Ephesians 4:25)
  22. Know that we have an enemy who hates the truth (John 8:44)
  23. Know that spiritual warfare is real and are prepared to fight the good fight of the faith with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6)
  24. Confront error when needed, especially gospel error with truth from God’s Word (Galatians 2:14)
  25. Seek to have a clear conscience in everything (Romans 9:1; 1 Timothy 1:5)
  26. Renounce manipulation and misrepresentation of others (2 Corinthians 4:2)
  27. Turn from myths and avoid worthless debates and meaningless speculations (2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14)
  28. Never teach false doctrine (2 Timothy 2:18)
  29. Understand the danger of sinful indulgence (2 Peter 2:2)
  30. Pursue joy in the Lord rather than in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  31. Refuse to make an idol of money, sex, power, or anything else (1 Timothy 6:5)
  32. Honor the marriage institution as a gift of God (1 Timothy 4:3)
  33. Love their wife and children, and lead their family to follow the Lord in truth (1 Timothy 4:3; Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 6:4)
  34. Commit to serve and support the church, a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
  35. Stay alert through prayer to God (Ephesians 6:18)
  36. Pray for boldness to speak the truth of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:19-20)
  37. Acknowledge their need for regular reminders of biblical truth (2 Peter 1:12)
  38. Renounce pride as an enemy of the truth (James 3:14)
  39. Strive to be reasonable, considerate, and clear in speech (Acts 26:25)
  40. Bring brothers back who have wandered from the truth (James 5:19)

Men of Consequence

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16, NLT)

Every man has a hunger for purpose. I’ve heard one man put it this way: “All men long to be men of consequence.” There is something deep within the soul of a man that longs to make a powerful impact on this world. This drive to make a difference is good, right, and God-given. However, there is a subtle and dangerous tendency for this desire to become misguided and destructive when it’s not properly channeled by the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

Men Long to Make a Lasting Impact

Paul reminds his young protégé Timothy—whom he calls “man of God”—to satisfy this purpose hunger in the will of God. Rather than simply telling Timoty to passively avoid sin, he charges Timothy with action-oriented commands like “Pursue righteousness,” “Fight the good fight of the faith,” and “Take hold of eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:11-12). In other words, if this desire to make a difference is corrupted by selfishness and a bloated ego, it will backfire and cause more harm than good. But if this hunger for significance is directed by God’s power and purposes for a man laid out in Scripture, he can make a powerful impact not only in this life but in the life to come.

Many Hollywood films speak to this hunger in a man’s soul. In the movie Gladiator, the great general Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, rallies his troops for battle with these words:

“Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium [Heaven], and you’re already dead! Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.”

When I first saw Gladiator, I found that line compelling: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

Many passages in Scripture speak to this same desire to make a lasting impact.

“Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
“To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.” (Romans 2:7, CSB)

Men Are Created as the Image and Glory of God

Many men today have been counted unworthy by our worldly and godless culture not for anything they have done but simply for being men. They are told that their desire to be strong and masculine is “problematic” and “toxic.” Rather than seeing the goodness of strong and courageous men, our world tends to blame them for so many ills of society. Granted, many men have displayed toxic behavior. They have lived according to their lusts for power and pleasure. And whenever men pursue power and pleasure as ends in themselves, this results in devastating consequences for others, particularly the women they should have been cherishing and protecting. Men who have used their strength either to assault or take advantage of women should rightly be charged and prosecuted.

However, in an effort to expose and dismantle this toxic version of masculinity, many have attempted to stigmatize masculinity altogether. To take just one example, when movie director James Cameron discussed his previous films with The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted he now thought testosterone was downright dangerous because it made men wild and untamed risk-takers. Discussing his previous films, including the Terminator series, Cameron said:

“A lot of things I did earlier, I wouldn’t do—career-wise and just risks that you take as a wild, testosterone-poisoned young man. I always think of [testosterone] as a toxin that you have to slowly work out of your system.”[1]

From the biblical perspective, such a quest to emasculate manhood and reengineer men into some kind of androgynous being is both foolish and harmful. God created men as men. He created mankind as “male and female” on purpose from the beginning, not as an evolutionary afterthought (Genesis 1:27).

He calls men to “act like men” (1 Corinthians 16:13). In doing so, God was not calling men to be self-centered pigs who are enslaved to their lusts. This seems to be how many influential voices in the culture view masculinity. But if God viewed masculinity as inherently toxic, He wouldn’t have charged men to act like men or called men “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7).

Men Need to Be Redeemed by Jesus Christ

The real problem is that our mainstream culture does not have a doctrine of original sin. Masculinity is labeled inherently “toxic” because of the sinful proclivities of men. But the Bible teaches us to view the world through the lens of the story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration. A man’s masculine nature is part of God’s good design at creation.[2] Men became sinners through the fall, and that is why we see men using their strength for evil.[3] But Jesus Christ, the God-man, came to redeem sinners, among whom are men and women.[4] Today, Jesus calls men to embrace their God-given nature as He restores them in His likeness.[5] Redeemed men must boldly stand for Christ in a lost and dying world that has forgotten the great value of men.

If you don’t understand that the problem is what sin has done to men, then you will identify the problem as men themselves, a foolish and ultimately demonic conclusion.

Having been told that their desire to be aggressive, courageous, and heroic is either stupid or troublesome, many young men resort to living out their dreams in the virtual world of video games while snacking on Cheetos in their mom’s basement. Men, if that’s been your reality, my goal isn’t to shame you but to assure you that God calls you to something far greater.

Men Are Called to Be Strong and Courageous

God wants men to live with intentionality and purpose. He wants us to have a God-centered perspective on life, seeing things in the big picture.

There are real evils in this world, and men are called to be at the frontline to stop evil with courage and conviction. When a man has bowed the knee to Jesus and is filled with the Spirit of power, he can rule over his own ungodly desires and stand for truth in a culture that has been massively deceived.

If you are a man, know this: Your desire to make a difference—to be a man of consequence—is good and right. Jesus values you. And as the ultimate Man, Jesus models for you perfectly what true masculinity looks like when we submit ourselves to God the Father and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

The church of Jesus Christ is to be a place where men are welcomed, called to be fully alive, and not shamed for who God made them to be. The world may try to shame masculine men as “toxic,” encourage men to be weak and passive, and may even call testosterone a “toxin,” but God says to men:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

Photo courtesy of David Liff.

[1] https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/avatar-director-james-cameron-says-testosterone-is-toxic-masculine-twitter-calls-him-beta-male-article-96001279  Accessed on October 10, 2023.

[2] Genesis 1:27, 31

[3] Ecclesiastes 7:29

[4] 1 Timothy 1:15

[5] Ephesians 4:22-24